Who will you vote for? Ask your questions here…
These are your local candidates.
The ‘Virtual Hustings’
Uniquely, this article is going to stay away from editorial comment and leave (almost) everything to you and the candidates. Unlike other publications pushing one side of the political agenda, the Totnes Pulse is proud to be neutral, and to support engagement with political representatives who work for us.
We have asked each of them for just 200 words about what they stand for – the rest is up to you. Simply put your question into the comment section below…
Use the comments section for your questions and, once approved, responses from each candidate will be posted into our ‘Answer Chart’ just above the comments section. This will allow everyone to see what each candidate thinks on any given subject.
We will filter out any abusive or irrelevant / repeated content (This isn’t Facebook) and fact-check where necessary. Please be respectful and concise, avoiding preamble and be aware that this will be an extremely busy time for candidates, so patience for answers please…
(if a candidate from another party confirms they’re standing, we’ll gladly add their statement; we have tried.)
The Candidates
Louise Webberley (Labour)
“It’s such an honour to be representing Labour in Totnes, the constituency I live and work in. I am a working mum, employed as a frontline social worker, with a specialist interest in the mental health of young people. I am also a Labour councillor for Totnes town council. As a social worker, I see first-hand the devastating impact of Conservative and Coalition cuts. Less funding for students with disabilities, longer waiting times for mental health appointments, youth services cut and schools unable to afford pens and paper.
But it doesn’t have to be this way in one of the richest countries in the world. I’m proud to stand on a manifesto of transformative, progressive policies, from the Green New Deal which will safeguard our planet for future generations, to vast reinvestment in our public services. Labour has many policies that will make life better for every one of us.
Unlike our current MP, Sarah Wollaston, I have always opposed Brexit. It will destroy our economy and hit the vulnerable hardest. Labour are now the only party supporting a people’s vote – and we’re the only party that can deliver one. In Totnes, it doesn’t have to be a choice between a Tory and an ex-Tory. Labour can win here.
Don’t just hope for a better Britain – vote for one!”
Dr Sarah Wollaston (Lib Dem)
We’re sorry to say Dr Wollaston has declined to partake in this discussion but we would be delighted to see a change of heart, our mailbox is always open.
Anthony Mangnall (Conservative)
“I am Anthony Mangnall your Conservative Party Candidate for this election. I am standing to be your MP for this constituency because I believe the current batch of politicians are failing to deliver for this country and for this community.
I have known the South Hams for my entire life. It is where my family grew up, it is where many of them still live and work today. So I know this area and I know this community. The constituency of Totnes was the only seat I applied to represent for this election, because for me it means something to represent the place you have local roots.
Politics in the UK has become so very binary and abrasive, but it should not be like that and it does not have to be. I believe that we need to retrace our steps to ensure our MPs are better at serving their local communities than themselves. I feel my experience, my age and energy lend themselves to be able to deliver for this community. From my time working on the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict initiative to helping close the UK’s domestic ivory market my record shows I can deliver and I want to put that to use in representing residents across Torbay and South Hams.
To improve our politics I believe we need to humanise it. That means engaging with residents and listening to their needs and concerns. It is for this reason that I quit my job four months ago and used the deposit for my first home to support me in my attempt to become your new local MP. I am not hard right or extremist, but a caring and compassionate Conservative who cares deeply about our society. I want to see Brexit delivered but i also want to see us debate the issues that matter most to me and my generation; climate change, housing, health, education, small business support and promoting our farming and fishing sectors, so as to provide great opportunity for all. I will be fighting on these issues over the course of this election and I look forward to hearing your views and opinions as the campaign progresses.”
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Please enter your concise questions below:
The City of Brussels has stopped the roll out of 5G due to health and environmental concerns. What are your views on this issue?
The Conservative’s record on the environment is to cut help for electric cars and solar panels, ban onshore wind, and Boris Johnson has voted against all environmental issues in Parliament. Experts say we have about a decade to address the climate and ecological crisis. Do you have the courage to put the survival of nature and civilization before politics?
What will you do to maintain parental rights and abolish the school holiday fines for a two week period to ensure good parents but often poorer don’t get classified as criminals.
What is your policy on the pensions that women who were born in the ’50s have been denied? My pension age went up in one jump from 60 to 66 years of age. Does your Party have plans to increase the pension age yet further?
Charges for NHS services in some places have already begun : how will each Party
respond in order to help the poor who cannot afford to pay for treatment; especially
in the light of the billions wasted over the Brexit process these last 3-4 years & the
liklihood of further cuts to medical services in the future.
What are the candidates’ personal opinions on the decriminalisation of cannabis and the right for anyone to grow one or two plants for either medicinal or recreational use?
How will the candidates begin to undo a decade of Tory cuts?
Thank you for your question. It has be placed in the Q&A section above.
Anthony Mangnall, The Conservatives have been in power for 9 years. During that time, and the ensuing austerity, Food Banks, (which were unheard of before then) have proliferated. How do you feel about this?
Thank you for your question. (To make your question applicable to all candidates we have modified it slightly). It is in the section above –
“How do you view food banks? And what do you think this steep rise in their use, means for British citizens as a whole?”
Anthony Mangnall (Con). The Conservatives called an election in 2017. The people voted and the Conservatives lost their majority. It was the will of the people. Is your party going to keep on having elections until it get the result it wants?
Thank you for your question, however this appears to be rhetorical?
pauliewonder@hotmail.com Can any candidate tell me, because HMRC can not, how we can continue to trade either with or without a deal using the VAT special margin scheme with the EU? The government and HMRC have both been asked this question and no one can answer it. It is used for second hand goods, antiques, art and vehicles. Without this goods will be too expensive and many businesses will go under due to having to pay 8.2% duty and 20% VAT on our goods instead of 20% VAT on the profit margin only. HMRC say it is not mentioned in any “deal” at all and that only new vehicles are mentioned so they have no idea what the future holds. If we fall out without a deal, it will mean VAT and duty on the entire price and this will shut businesses down. Can someone please explain definitively what our future is. Do we shut down now and lay everyone off or have you a workable solution?
Thank you for your question Paul. Your question is very specific, presumably because this will affect you directly however we have asked it in the section above as:
“how we can continue to trade either with or without a deal using the VAT special margin scheme with the EU? “
Anthony,
In the last 10 years of Tory government, food banks in the UK have increased from 47, to around 2,000. The Trussel Trust accounting for around 1,200 of these. The number of supplies to these food banks has increased by 73% in the last five years. How do you view food banks? And what do you think this steep rise in their use, means for British citizens as a whole?
Thank you for your question. (To make your question applicable to all candidates we have modified it slightly). It is in the section above as
“How do you view food banks? And what do you think this steep rise in their use, means for British citizens as a whole?”
Thank you for your question. It is in the section above –
“How do you view food banks? And what do you think this steep rise in their use, means for British citizens as a whole?”
I asked this question to Anthony. He has yet to reply.
Question to all candidates:
We are in the midst of a climate emergency. What are your views on fracking and how can we save our planet in the years to come?
Question for Anthony and Louise,
Trust in politics and politicians are at an all time low, with our representatives saying one thing and doing exactly the opposite. Nowhere is this higher up the agenda than in this Totnes Constituency, where 53% of voters supported a Conservative Sarah Wollaston in 2017, but ended up with the third placed Liberal Democrat manifesto.
How can we trust you to keep the promises you make and restore our faith in democracy?
Regards,
James
Thank you for your question. . It is in the section above -^^
In 2010 the outgoing Secretary of the Treasury left a note saying “there is no money left” 9 years later all parties want to start spending again. To use an analogy we sold our Mercedes and made do for 9 years with a second hand Vauxhall. Now our credit rating says we can afford to buy a new vehicle on H.P. will it be an all singing and dancing model again or is it better to choose the cheaper option.
Candidates views would be appreciated.
Well said
People have forgotten that we were in serious debt as a country and we had to do something.
How short are people’s memories.
It is because of austerity that we can loosen the grip.
Do you respect the result of the referendum and work toward us leaving the eu ASAP without being tied politically or legally to them.
What would a local Conservative MP do to help those homeless on the streets of Totnes?
Thank you for your question. (To make your question applicable to all candidates we have modified it slightly). It is in the section above – “What would you do to help those homeless on the streets of Totnes?”