Election 2024? The Candidates Perspectives

1st July 2024 The Totnes Pulse

The 2024 online hustings

We’ve arranged our second Totnes Pulse online hustings for the South Devon Constituency (Formally Totnes).

How this works

You can ask questions in the comments column below and we will forward a precis of questions asked (to avoid repetitions or confusion) to each candidate.

It is very clear that all the Parliamentary Candidates are working extremely hard right now and we can hope they find the time to come back to your questions altough some have given very fullsome answers.

We will then publish the question put and their responses in the interactive chart below these candidate statements.

The Rules

This isn’t Facebook or TXitter! Please be considerate and consider your question before entering it. Can it reasonably be answered without recourse to an essay for example.

Abusive comments will not be published.

The Prospective Parliamentary Candidates

Michael Bagley - Reform Party — Michael Bagley – Reform Party

Michael Bagley – The Reform Party

Michael has chosen not to participate in this process

Robert Bagnall – The Green Party

Robert Bagnall - Green Party — Robert Bagnall – Green Party

The son of a World War II RAF veteran and an NHS nursing auxiliary, I’ve spent my career working with the public sector, and animal and conservation charities. My family moved to Devon a decade ago for its beauty and quality of life.

I am shocked and saddened by what has happened to our country and region in that time. Lack of investment in every aspect of public services has left our roads potholed, our rivers unsafe, and the jewel in the crown, the NHS, in the ICU. Our failure to address the climate emergency is a failure to the younger generation and the future of this planet. Disregard for nature has made us one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.

We are a rich nation which can afford to protect the environment, invest in public services, and eradicate poverty, but for too long we have made political choices which make the rich richer and the poor poorer. That deepening wealth inequality affects almost every aspect of life—and in South Devon we have some of the poorest parts of one of our nation’s poorest regions. Poverty is a political choice, and it’s not one I’m prepared to make—which is why I am standing as your Green candidate.

Anthony Mangnall – The Conservative Party

I am delighted to be standing as the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for South Devon, having served as the Member of Parliament for Totnes between 2019 and May 2024. While the past four years have been incredibly hard work and we have faced some tough times, I have been proud to be from such a caring, compassionate and community spirited part of the country.
My aim is to help change things at a local and national level, and I have a proven track record of delivering on my commitments. In my time serving the people of South Devon, my team and I have worked on over 29,000 cases for residents, attracted millions of pounds of investment into local public sector organisations, passed laws to protect our local environment, amended legislation to support Devon’s farmers and fishermen, delivered two banking hubs, supported community groups to access funding, and much more.
However, my work is not done. I want to continue to deliver for South Devon. I have always believed that putting people before politics, and listening locally so I can deliver nationally, is the best way to be a good local Member of Parliament.

Daniel Steel - Labour Party — Daniel Steel – The Labour Party

Daniel Steel – The Labour Party

It is truly a privilege to be selected to stand as the first ever Labour candidate for the new seat of South Devon.

After 14 years of the Tories, people are crying out for change across the country, including in South Devon. Labour is the only party with a plan to deliver it.

My entire career has been dedicated to the service of others. This is rooted in the values I was taught growing up in a service family. My career has taken me around the world, but I feel lucky to call Devon, my home.

I was a diplomat at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office until April 2024. I’m proud to have represented the UK and its interests overseas in Afghanistan, Egypt and at the United Nations. I will show the same honesty, integrity and determination if the people of South Devon elect me as your next Member of Parliament.

It is time for change. We can all feel it. I am looking forward to being part of that change with you all!

Caroline Voaden – The Liberal Democrats

Hello, I’m Caroline and a resident of Totnes for 15 years. I’m the former CEO of Devon Rape Crisis and served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2019-2020, where I led the Liberal Democrat delegation.
My early career was spent working as a Reuters journalist, primarily in the Balkans during and after the Yugoslav war, and then as a freelance editor. I lived in six European countries and speak several languages – I worked in both English and French in the European Parliament.

I got actively involved in politics on June 24th, 2016, the day after the Brexit referendum. I clearly remember the shock our town felt that day. One of the reasons I am standing for election now is because I still believe Brexit was a huge mistake, and we need voices in parliament who are brave enough to say so.

I’m very proud to have won the South Devon Primary in March with 78% of the vote, and am humbled at the active support being given to my campaign by Labour and Green voters, as well as Lib Dem colleagues. I am a progressive politician, I passionately support PR, and I believe that there really is far more that unites us than divides us.