Pictured: left to right, Toby Gray, Colin Slade and Paul Osman at a recent campaigning event in Tiverton.
Conservative councils are more likely to have lower taxes, run better services, and not put their councils into debt, according to national research. Locally, the Conservatives, who have led Devon County Council since 2009, have managed to keep Council Tax rates relatively low while maintaining a balanced budget.
Despite economic challenges, the council finished the 2022/23 fiscal year with a slight surplus of £156,000 on a revenue budget of nearly £630 million, underscoring effective financial stewardship.
In contrast, neighbouring Somerset Council, under Liberal Democrat leadership, declared a financial emergency in November 2023, facing a projected budget gap of £100 million for the 2024/25 fiscal year. To address this shortfall, the council implemented significant measures, a 7.5% increase in Council Tax, substantial spending cuts, and the utilisation of reserves.
Toby Gray, Conservative candidate for Tiverton West, emphasised the importance of sound financial management: "Tiverton residents deserve responsible governance that ensures essential services are delivered efficiently. Devon Conservatives’ long track record shows this commitment."
Colin Slade, a current councillor and former Tiverton Mayor, now standing for Tiverton East, highlighted the consequences of fiscal mismanagement: "The situation in Somerset serves as a cautionary tale. Liberal Democrats can’t maintain the disciplined budgeting needed to avoid similar debt. Councils should focus on providing reliable services to our communities, not expensive vanity projects."
In December, Labour announced its intention to stop the Rural Service Delivery Grant, which gives £10 million to Devon County Council to support providing services in rural areas, further straining Devon’s income.
Paul Osman, candidate for Willand and Uffculme, added: "Devon's success in managing its finances ensures that we can support services and infrastructure for our residents. Now, with Labour’s cut, we need to focus on delivering on residents’ priorities, not pursuing vanity projects."
As the May 1st local elections approach, voters are presented with a clear choice between the Conservative-led model of fiscal responsibility demonstrated in Devon and the financial instability currently challenging Liberal Democrat-run Somerset.
