Funded with local support

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Selaine has achieved more for North Devon in just a few years than seemed to be achieved in all those previous 23 years

✒ I WAS surprised at Mr Richard Toller’s letter (MP magazine funding query, March 14). As a previous supporting Conservative, then a Lib Dem (as we are led to assume he didn’t get his way with his aspirations at the former), he now says he has lost his compass politically. Anyway, that is not the point.

He attacks Selaine Saxby’s latest communication to constituents and which he should know better are not funded by State coffers.

As an ex-treasurer of the party here, I cannot recall donations from ‘hedge funders, property developers and private equity promoters’ (even though these are quite legitimate voters and donors) and he will know that offshore residents and corporations are barred from making donations anyway.

The accounts are published every year and, yes, the local party is funded by many generous supporters who put their hands in their pockets in many ways, but, alas, I cannot recall the last time a reportable donation was received in North Devon (chance would be a fine thing!). That reporting limit was £5,000 when I was there and is now £11,180.

He remarks upon Selaine’s excellent Animal Welfare Bill just presented to Parliament, the latest great work she has undertaken in punching well above her weight in representing North Devon’s interests in Westminster, as well as the whole country.

She was named in the last Budget in regard to her tireless work to increase housing provision for locals here – that’s not the first time she was named by this Chancellor in his finance statements either!

She is renowned as being one of the hardest working of all MPs and if you don’t know what she is doing, do subscribe to the regular newsletters which will inform you.

We were represented by a Lib Dem MP for 23 years up until he was beaten eight years ago.

He was/is a nice chap but that’s not what the job is all about.

Selaine has achieved more for North Devon in just a few years than seemed to be achieved in all those 23 and that is worth reflection.

It will only be right if Selaine’s phenomenal works in putting North Devon on the map are recognised at the time of the next election too.

Incidentally, Selaine’s Puppy-smuggling Bill was presented last Friday and not a single Lib Dem MP turned-up in the House of Commons to support it (remember Private Members’ Bills cross party lines). Please draw your own conclusions about priorities I suppose.

Philip J Milton

Trimstone