Our new MP to leave before she arrives

With the new boundary changes for constituencies, we were about to lose Hugo Swire (see his letter to me below) and were to have had Angela Browning, currently MP for Tiverton and Honiton. Tonight she announced that she will be retiring at the next election.

Very wise, Angela - to whom I had been sending local correspondence so she would be up to speed with matters when she took over. I hope I didn't influence your decision not to take on the rest of East Devon!

Well, on the bright side perhaps Hugo Swire will put himself up for election for the new constituency. Though he might not be visiting Honiton or Tavistock - they are a really long drive from Woodbury Salterton (also see below), at least as far as Seaton.