Two opinion pieces from me in as many days; you lucky, lucky people! What I wouldnโt give to have two lofty opinion pieces from Devizine thrown at me once in a while!
As the news circulates that hunting bonkers Conservative PCC candidate for Wiltshire, Johnathan Seed is out of the race, we all can have a belly-laugh, especially Basil Brush. But rules are rules, and at this stage, seems WC will need to hold a second election, rather than the obvious, just pick the second-place candidate and roll with that.
I mean, if a horse falls out of the race, the race continues. You wouldnโt stop the race, pick another horse and rerun it, would you?
Without quoting sources at this delicate time, word on the street is another election will cost a cool million squid; who picks up this bill, the taxpayer?
Hinging on two conflicting allegations as to how this story came to light, one being Seedy declared his drink driving offence and suddenly decided he should pull out because of it, and the second that he was ousted when the offense came to light, one could argue if the latter, he, or the Conservative party should be liable for the bill, whereas the first means the electoral roll shouldโve picked this up before running the election. Being Wiltshire Council is Tory run, you can bet your bottom dollar, the dollar is coming out of your pocket. In essence, itโs Wiltshireโs most expensive laugh.
Whatever, this does mean thereโs time for the Conservatives to draft in a new candidate, which they can do. One who without even having to campaign, will, by current trends walk the show without the slightest insight or experience of the roll. So, if you thought every cloud has a silver lining, no, not in our Tory haven. But I must stress, thatโs speculation.
If the race is yet to be won, thereโs as much convincing as I can to be done, to sway you to consider voting elsewhere. Weโve interviewed Lib Dem Liz Webster, and weโve interviewed independent Mike Rees. We ran out of time to chat to Labourโs Junab Ali, for which I apologise, but with this news, and depending on the date of the election, perhaps this is still on the cards, and I welcome Junab to chat with us.
Anyway, tonight will see the news break the local social media sites, whereโs thereโs a general feeling of relief. Johnathan Seedโs campaign has not been particularly popular. And if that has reflected in the current polls, who knows, we may not have to go through all this again.
Hereโs what some people are saying online, which is what the Gazelle & Herod do for a quick article, I know, and if itโs good enough for them itโs good enough for us!
โIโm sorry, but Iโm losing no sleep over this one!โ
โApparently they’re going to put up a garden gnome with a blue rosette on it, they’re still convinced it will win.โ
โItโs very frustrating, especially as itโs nothing new. He doesnโt seem to have been a popular choice so fingers crossed he doesnโt win and we can bypass another vote.โ
โGood. Will Wiltshire Council send him the bill for having to rerun the poll?โ
“This will give him more time to spend with the hunt and hounds..”
Right, thatโs enough of that, this isnโt a public forum! Go figure!
Trending…
A Devizes Arts Festival Lunchtime Recital with Fรกbio Fernandes
Andyโs topping the leaderboard for Devizes Arts Festival reviews; if I pull my socks up and attend a lunchtime recital at least Iโve chalked myโฆ
Pride Where Pride is Needed
Pride month finds me wondering if Pride events are actually needed more in our smaller market towns where awareness and acceptance is perhaps lesser thanโฆ
Devizes Arts Festival Reviews: Steve Tuffinโs Have-A-Go Workshop on Memoir-Writing, Anthony Horowitz โ โA Life In Murderโ, and Becky Greyโs โHow I Became A Ghost Writerโ
Itโs All In The Writing Andy Fawthrop The Devizes Arts Festival is now in its 40th year and, as ever, seems to be in robustโฆ
PREVIEW: Bullshot Crummond [*], Rondo Theatre, Larkhall, Bath June 17th – 20th 2026
by Ian Diddams images by Josie Mae-Ross If you have been fortunate enough to have experienced the four hander parody version of “The 39 Steps”,โฆ
โNothing Rhymes With Orangeโ at Cursus Festival, May 24th, 2026.ย
by Ian Diddams images by Ian Diddams Though now based out of Bristol, at university studying Music and sharing digs together, NRWO (as they areโฆ
Make Music This Summer Launches at Wiltshire Music Centre; 19 Days of Musical Activities for Children and Young People
Wiltshire Music Centre is launching the Make Music This Summer programme, a vibrant 19-day programme of musical activities for children, young people and families….. Designedโฆ
After Ruby, Barrelhouse and RowdeFest 26
Images by Jess Worrow A busy late spring weekend across the county, with major events from Bradford-on-Avon to Swindon, but I’m bringing quality acts Iโฆ
Sir Tony Robinson, Nigel Planer, TโPau, and Timmy Mallettโฆ and More at Frome Festival in July
Tickets are now on sale for Frome Festivalโs silver anniversary year, taking place between the 3rd โ 12th July, 2026. Three hundred events are scheduledโฆ
โWe Will Rock Youโ at St. Augustine’s, Trowbridge, May 27thโ30th, 2026
by Ian Diddams images by Trevor Porter & Claire Borovac Juke box musicals tend to be little more than a string of hits, loosely linkedโฆ
Devizes Wharf to Edinburgh; Whose Play, and The Sh!t They Don’t Tell You in Books!
Images: Chris Watkins Media May seemed so far away back in Feb when we ran a preview of two plays which will see a Devizesโฆ
