UPDATE (20/7/22): The Leveller Attacks Independents for Frome AND Wells Independents - In Just One Article - Why?

Independents For Frome Emblem
Registered with Electoral Commission

UPDATE (22/7/22)

Here is a link to our article showing the responses from Scott Ward of Independents for Frome and Denise Denis of Wells Independents.

And to confirm the number of councillors on Somerset County Council who will also be elected to the New Somerset Council, here they are:

Independent Councillors Won Just 3 of 110 Seats
(shown by the grey pie slice)

 

Total councillors 110, of which:

• Independent 3
• Labour 5
• Green Party 5
• Conservative 36
  
• Liberal Democrat 61
  

After the local elections, the Leveller's Editor Andrew Lee chose to attack Independents for Frome and Wells Independents. We still do not have a reply from him, when we asked him why. And we have chased.

To say again, it was the editorial policy of The Leveller that Somerset's residents should have one unitary authority to replace all four districts and the county council. This editorial policy to support the unitary was clearly stated and done so repeatedly over time. 

And The Leveller's editorial policy to support the unitary was despite the fact that in 2007, 82% of residents who voted in the Referendum, voted AGAINST a unitary authority.

While the influence of The Leveller across the population of Somerset may be limited to certain types of Somerset resident, this was their editorial policy.

And it is clear that when the districts and county are scrapped in 2023, there will now be far fewer independent councillors in Somerset on the New Somerset Council (unitary authority).

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UPDATE (6/7/22)

Somerset Independents has contacted The Leveller by email to offer a Right of Reply. No response has been received, so far. We have chased.

We have also contacted Scott Ward, who is a Registered Officer of the Independents for Frome political party. Mr Ward is also a Frome Town Councillor. There has so far been no response to our email and chasing email from Mr Ward, or from Steve Tanner, also a Frome Town Councillor and officer of the IFF political party. We have chased.

We have also contacted Denise Denis, Wells City Councillor for Wells Independents, using the email advertised on the Wells Independents website. So far, we have not received any response.

--- 

(26/6/22):

Somerset Independents puts residents first. We were formed to stand up for residents because the Westminster parties have let Somerset down, whether Lib Dems, Greens, Conservatives or Labour. As residents tell us, they are all the same.

We want to see better elected representatives on our councils and at Parliament - representatives who stand up for Somerset's towns and villages - instead of themselves or their political party.

Independent councillors and independent MPs are not perfect, but we think that is the way to go. They must be independent of big parties and listening to local people and acting for local people, with local people. 

We think that the First Past the Post election system also needs to go, in favour of the Single Transferable Vote (STV) as used by independents in the recent Australian Federal Election to the House of Representatives, equivalent to our House of Commons. STV is also used in elections in Scotland. But not in England and not for our councils or MPs here in Somerset.

So we were disappointed to read the latest issue of "The Leveller" where the newspaper attacks both Independents for Frome and Wells Independents. 

As we have made clear on this website and elsewhere, we are not formally connected to Independents for Frome (IFF) or Wells Independents. However, whenever we have dealt with one of their Frome Town councillors, Scott Ward, he has always responded and seems to have been straight with his answers. That is not always the case with other Frome councillors, especially those from the Westminster parties.

We include a photo of the Leveller article titled "Frome's journey from Democracy to Oligarchy".

 

The Leveller page 16 of the 15 June 2022 issue

In the article, The Leveller says: "Since 2015 all the councillors on Frome Town Council have signed up to IFF"...and then concluding..."having driven the politics out of local government, IFF will have driven the democracy out too". 

The Leveller also claims that Wells Independents "move closer to their goal of eliminating the politics from the council chamber". This is despite writing that Wells Council will have "nine Wells Independents, five LibDems and two Conservatives".

If there are deals being done by independents with the Westminster parties in either Frome or Wells, Somerset Independents has not been able to unearth much, if any evidence.

We have already published our evidence of the agreement between the Lib Dems and Greens in Mendip - the Leader of the Greens Shane Collins admitted it on the BBC shortly after the district elections when interviewed by David Garmston. Collins also praised Extinction Rebellion in the same programme. And the pattern of candidates in Mendip also suggests a deal was done between the Lib Dems and Greens. Following the elections, the official record shows that Green and Lib Dem councillors worked hand-in-glove on Mendip District Council.

There is no evidence that we have seen that there was any formal deal between IFF and the Westminster parties. If there is, we would like to see it.

Whilst we are disappointed in the attacks by The Leveller, we are not entirely surprised, based on our own dealings with the Editor of The Leveller, Andrew Lee. 

Years ago, in the days before Somerset Independents was registered as a political party, our now Leader Andrew Pope asked Mr Lee to add a section for independent councillors after the regular Labour, Tory (David Warburton, no less) and Lib Dem opinion sections in the paper. This seemed only fair as there were independent representatives at the time. It did not happen. Andrew had also asked for fairer coverage of independent candidates and councillors at the 2019 local elections. The reasons Mr Lee gave were less than convincing.

We still think that this slot should be offered in The Leveller, while there are independent councillors remaining. The number of independents will soon be decreasing.

As he says in the article, Mr Lee stood as an Independent candidate, and lost. This is what happens very often to independent candidates, because it is much harder to be elected without the big money and Westminster party machines.

There will be fewer independent councillors when the districts and county councils are scrapped next year. This was done against the wishes of the residents of Somerset, who voted in 2007 82% against such a change. Mr Lee questioned whether that Referendum was representative of current opinion. Somerset Independents campaigned unsuccessfully for a Yes/No Referendum - only a two or one unitary Referendum occurred - two buckets of manure, we said.

The Leveller's editorial policy, stated on multiple occasions, was to support a unitary authority and the scrapping of the districts and county.

It is a fact of political science under First Past The Post in the UK that the larger the electoral division, the more difficult it is for independents to win. Perhaps the Somerset Conservatives, Somerset Labour, Somerset Lib Dems and Somerset Greens - and their friends in high places at Westminster - already knew this and this meant their resistance to the enforced changes to our councils, was less than vigorous?

County Council elections and the election for the new council too, have more voters than district council elections, because they cover a wider geographical area. In turn, district council elections have more voters and a wider area than the smaller parish and town council elections.

Well, the recent 2022 County Council elections, which are also for the New Somerset Council when it is created in 2023, returned just three independent councillors out of 110 seats. 

The success of IFF and Wells Independents is at a smaller scale. But is still a success of independent councillors in elections.

Perhaps The Leveller would prefer that Independents for Frome and Wells Independents would also lose, as has been proven with just 3 in 110 being elected at the County, and then there would be even fewer independent representatives in Somerset?

We wonder what Independents for Frome and Wells Independents think of The Leveller's attack on them? We will be asking them.

Join Us!

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

UPDATE (6/7/22): Warburton Back In Hospital and New Statement - No Response To Our Questions From Warburton - David Warburton The Suspended Tory MP Actually Replies To Some Constituents!

David Warburton STILL Hiding
Behind the Prime Minister
Photo: Wyke Farms Election PR

UPDATE (1853 hours 6/7/22)

No, David Warburton has still not answered our questions.

But another statement has appeared on his website after our update below. It says:

"Following a sharp decline in his mental health, David has today been readmitted to a psychiatric hospital for urgent treatment. David’s office continues to function as normal."

 

UPDATE (6/7/22)

David Warburton has still not answered our questions.

He has updated his website with a very short statement.

It seems that the pressure from Somerset Independents is making a difference.

Does it address the situation? ABSOLUTELY NOT. HE MUST RESIGN. 

UPDATE (2/7/22)

Somerton and Frome Conservative Association told us - before they blocked our Twitter account - that David Warburton was only an email away.

Constituents of Warburton have consistently told us - over years - that Warburton does not respond.

You only need to look around our website to see the evidence of that and that the Chief Whip of Conservative MPs did not intervene when we approached him in 2020.

So on 21st June 2022 we emailed David Warburton with some questions.

And it is no surprise that as at 2nd July 2022, he has not responded.

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Somerset Independents puts residents first. One of the biggest criticisms that we have heard across Somerset from residents is that their MPs do not respond to them.

We have endeavoured to stand up to residents, ever since we were formed over two years ago.

As is shown elsewhere on this website, we challenged the Conservative Chief Whip to intervene over David Warburton, the Somerton and Frome (now suspended Tory) MP. But he did not.

And still David Warburton's constituents have complained.

We've demonstrated Warburton's lack of activity at Parliament and we have challenged the Somerton and Frome Conservative Association directly. They refused to confirm his record, but as we have shown, these are facts of the Parliamentary record.

Now we have seen actual replies from David Warburton to constituents.

One constituent received the below reply, when they asked Warburton about the Prime Minister and that Johnson should go. They have given us permission to use the full response. Other constituents have received the same (copied and pasted) response.

Do you think Warburton is really listening to his constituents? 

Tell us what you think of his response and the investigations.

 

BBC News 3rd April 2022

 

"Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me about the Prime Minister. Your comments have been carefully read and digested. I was not able to vote on Monday, but my views expressed in my statement on 15th February remain unchanged.
Statement on the Prime Minister | David Warburton
 
I believe that the public are rightly anxious about the cost of living challenges we face; these caused by the twin scourges of global inflation and rising energy prices. From the many conversations I've had with him, I know that Boris Johnson's number one focus is always on the people's priorities. We must focus on the pressing issues both domestically and globally and I am pleased to see that along with delivering cost of living help to one third of all households, the Prime Minister has pledged further arsenal to our European friends in Ukraine. Tackling these challenges is exactly what the public expects of us instead of a distracting, divisive and destructive internal leadership contest. Change may well be the salt in the soup of life as the fantastic Gyles Brandreth suggests but we all know that too much salt is not good for us.
 
Now we need urgently to reunite, put the distractions of the last few months and the vote last week behind us and get on with the job of serving our constituents and the country. For me, one of the messages from the Queen’s jubilee celebrations that shone through is that unity, stability and resolve are the backbone of our wonderful country.
 
To those many who have voted Conservative in the past, I urge you to offer your support to a Prime Minister who delivered the largest election win in a generation and is best placed to deliver the Conservative priorities we hold dear.
 
And to those who have not voted Conservative, or who may have once but are wavering, my pledge as your elected representative is to follow the wisdom of Thomas Aquinas: "We must love them both, those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject, for both have laboured in the search for truth, and both have helped us in finding it."
 
Best wishes
 
Yours,   David
  David Warburton MP
Member of Parliament for Somerton and Frome"

 

Andrew Pope, Leader of Somerset Independents, responds:

Andrew Pope

"Despite the massive by-election losses, Warburton seems still to be not listening - his response appears to be laden with heavy sarcasm. And it seems, neither is Boris Johnson listening and is pledging to carry on! It's amazing.

Warburton was hiding behind David Cameron when they visited Wyke Farms in Somerset. Warburton is STILL hiding behind the Prime Minister, seven years later. 

Both Warburton and Johnson have to go. Perhaps they will both go at the General Election, but maybe Warburton will do the decent thing and quit now, because he simply is not representing Somerton and Frome."

 

Who Are Somerset Independents?

We are Somerset's own campaigning group and political party. We were formed to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

UPDATE (14/7/22): Covid Deaths Over 200,000 and Infections Rising - Glastonbury Festival 2022 Opens: This Year It Is Going Ahead - Over 2 Years, We Listened to Residents and Acted To Protect Somerset From Covid

 

Glastonbury Festival at Pilton, Somerset

UPDATE (14/7/22)

Official figures from the Office for National Statistics have shown that the number of deaths nationally has now exceeded 200,000, reports SomersetLive.

The number of deaths in Somerset is now over 1,200. 

The ONS figures show the number of deaths, via the below graph. You can see that while they have increased, they are not at the huge levels of the peaks of 2020 and 2021.

The ONS said:

"Deaths involving COVID-19 increased in the UK

13 July 2022

In the UK, there were 412 deaths involving COVID-19 registered in the week ending 1 July 2022, an increase from 347 in the previous week. This accounted for 3.5% of all deaths in the latest week; an increase from 2.8% in the previous week. There were 11,828 total deaths registered in the UK in the latest week, which is 12.1% above the five-year average."

 

However, without any restrictions or safeguards from Government, including on Super Spreader events, the number of infections is also continuing to rise, as shown in the following figures from the ONS.

Leader of Somerset Independents Andrew Pope says: "Now there have been 200,000 deaths, with 1,200 deaths in Somerset. At the beginning of the Pandemic I publicly stated on national radio that the Government's actions were not good enough. This proves it. Boris Johnson has gone. His legacy is total failure."

---

UPDATE (2/7/22):

ITV News is reporting that "Covid-19 infections in the UK have jumped by more than half a million in a week".

Hospital numbers and intensive care admissions are continuing to rise.

Leader of Somerset Independents Andrew Pope says: 

Andrew Pope,
Leader of Somerset Independents

"These increases are no surprise to Somerset Independents. We've been listening to the experts, some of whom are local in our region. Meanwhile, the Johnson Tory Government seems to be preoccupied with surviving itself, suffering scandal after scandal. 

The Government should be protecting the citizens of the UK, but as we've seen and as Somerset Independents has shown - Somerset residents were let down by the Tory Government and the Tory County Council that is responsible for Public Health and infection control.

When I directly challenged the former Tory Leader of the County Council, David Fothergill, and the Director of Public Health in public, their answers were not convincing. There was more buck-passing and excuses.

Somerset Independents campaigned against festivals going ahead during the Pandemic. Glastonbury and Nass were stopped. But now super spreader events are allowed to go ahead unchecked, and it is no surprise therefore that infections have shot up. The Pandemic is not over.

When are the Government and the Lib Dems - who now control the County Council - going to get a grip and take the continuing Pandemic seriously?

Or is it going to be another case of Lib Dem or Tory, same old story."

---

UPDATE (24/6/22)

As we have reported on this website and via our Twitter and Facebook, the train strikes have had an effect. We have published the views of local RMT and local TUC. In contrast, Somerset Labour, Somerset Lib Dems and Somerset's Tory MPs have refused to answer our questions on the strikes.

We did not campaign against Glastonbury Festival going ahead this year or the NASS Festival at Bath and West, because residents did not contact us with their concerns.

But there is worrying news - Covid-19 has not gone away, although Boris Johnson's Government seems to wish it had. Covid has been missing from the headlines of the mainstream media.

And as we have covered via our website and social media, Covid infections were about to enter a new wave. Local mathematical biologists have predicted it and warned against it. Were you aware?

So, novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Sitrep: we're in a wave, but most people don't seem that bothered. It seems hard to tell where and when it will peak, but I'm increasingly feeling like the top end of the envelope of possibilities is starting to include unpleasant numbers. 🧵

— Oliver Johnson (@BristOliver) June 25, 2022

 

 

So with 200,000 people entering Somerset, and even more predicted to go to NASS Festival, what will be the effect of the rising Covid infections on Somerset?

It will not be long before we find out.

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Somerset Independents puts residents first. Because we stand up for Somerset residents, we listened to them and did not work with residents to get the Festival cancelled this year. 

Over 2020, 2021 and now in 2022, we did some research and we published some hopefully useful information that does not often get reported by the local "journalists" or what passes for journalism from the media outlets that prefer clickbait to actual news.  

We took action, because the local councils, local councillors and other authorities were not reassuring residents sufficiently that they would be kept safe from these "Super Spreader" events - whether at Pilton or at Bath and West Showground - during the Global Covid-19 Pandemic. 

We listened to residents. We acted for residents. We acted with residents.

Here are some links to articles that we published on our research and on our action for Somerset residents and protect Somerset and its people.

4th August 2020 - Think Piece: Glastonbury Festival - Myths and Legends

14th August 2020 - Timeline of Lockdown and 2020 Glastonbury Festival Cancellation 

14th August 2020 - Glastonbury Festival: What the Authorities Told Us

14th August 2020 - Is Glastonbury Festival 2021 Going Ahead?

25th March 2021 - Avon and Somerset Police - What Does Current Commissioner Sue Mountstevens Think?

13th May 2021 - Resident Concerns on New September Concert At Pilton By Glastonbury Festival Organisers

15th May 2021 - Mendip Council In "Rush to Please" Glastonbury Organisers On New September Concert

19th May 2021 - UPDATED (21/5/21): Residents "Very Angry" As "Supine" Mendip Council "Bent Over Backwards" To Glastonbury Organisers On Pilton Event

23rd May 2021 - UPDATE (4/6/21): EVERYONE Should Get A Refund! For The Global Rip-Off Streamed from Worthy Farm by Glastonbury - while Mendip Council Stood By!

5th June 2021 - UPDATE (31/7/21): NASS Festival STILL GOING AHEAD Despite Cancellation of Glastonbury September 'Equinox' Concert 

11th June 2021 -  VICTORY: CANCELLED - "Super Spreader" September Equinox Concert at Pilton Confirmed Cancelled by Organiser Emily Eavis

21st June 2021 -  Train Strikes: Tory Government Versus RMT Union - What Do The Local Unions Say and What Is The Impact on Somerset Residents?

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Join Somerset's own campaign group and dedicated political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

UPDATED (2/7/22): Labour, Lib Dems or Tory, Same Old Story. Train Strikes: Tory Government Versus RMT Union - What Do The Local Unions Say and What Is The Impact on Somerset Residents?

The RMT Campaign Badge

UPDATED (2/7/22)

We have received no response from Somerset Labour to our questions about the train strikes, which we sent by email to the email address they advertise. 

We have received no response from the Liberal Democrat Leader of Somerset County Council, Councillor Bill Revans.  

And not a single of Somerset's Conservative MPs have responded to our questions about the train strikes.

But the local RMT did respond. And so did the local TUC. So we published their responses.

We cannot be fairer than that. 

Labour, Lib Dems or Tory - same old story.

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UPDATED (24/6/22):

Ben McGrail of ITV News West Country has released this excellent report of the impact of the strikes and the opposing views that it has generated in Crewkerne, Somerset.

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Somerset Independents puts residents and workers first. We are concerned about the impact of the train strikes on Somerset's people - whether they work on the trains or whether they use the trains to get to and from work, or to and from school. The BBC has reported widespread disruption and concerns.

Do you live or work in Somerset?

Have you been affected?

Please get in touch via the Contact Form on the left of this website, or using the contact details at the link here. Or you can comment below (all comments are moderated).

We are not so concerned about the impact of the train strikes on people who do not live in Somerset, and who are coming to Somerset for Pilton (Glastonbury) Festival. 

Local media (e.g. purveyors of clickbait SomersetLive) seem to be more interested in those visitors than local residents. So we've asked them to give more attention to Somerset's residents and workers.

The General Secretary of the RMT has made a statement today, but we want to hear from local people. We have asked the local RMT union officials a set of questions, and we have asked the local TUC.

Barry West, Regional Organiser for the RMT, told us in response to our questions today:

4. What do you say to the Somerset residents who use the trains going to work or on holiday?

5. What do you say to the visitors to Somerset for Pilton (Glastonbury) Festival?

6. What do you say to the organisers of Pilton (Glastonbury) Festival, Glastonbury Festival Events Limited?

"We are disappointed that so many people are affected by this action that was the very last resort.

The dispute could and should have been avoided if those in power namely Grant Shapps untied the hands of those rail industry leaders and allowed them to get on with the negotiations directly with the RMT.

The government has interfered and continues to be involved, they may not be in the room but they are pulling the strings."

 

 

Robin Head of the local TUC, also of the National Education Union (NEU) told us in response to our questions 4,5 and 6:

 

"RMT members are trying to negotiate a settlement for their workforce and feel they are being blocked. It is a great shame about the inconvenience but the overarching aim is to achieve a better service for users. e.g. with no ticket office at Somerset stations what do users do when it goes wrong? As an example I went to London a couple of weeks ago and the ticket machine was faulty. If there had no been no ticket office I would have struggled to prove my ticket purchase. Please look at the RMTs list of concerns and be aware that there are many outstanding issues. This is a legitimate trade dispute. Working people have the right to withdraw their labour if employers do not properly engage with the issues."

 

Mr Head also told us, in response to our question:

 

7. Whether teachers of the NEU will also be going on strike in Somerset in solidarity with the RMT?

 

"No. That is not legal. We will be conducting our own separate indicative ballot in the Autumn specifically to do with teachers' salaries which have fallen 15% behind relative rates of pay in 2010 and like to fall further behind with such a high rate of inflation. This has lead to fewer teachers in Somerset causing very big recruitment and retention issues for Somerset schools."

 

Neither the RMT nor the local TUC representative answered our first 3 questions:

 

1. Is the RMT affiliated to Labour again, or not?

2. How much money the RMT has donated to any of the Somerset Labour CLPs or its campaigns?

3. What is Somerset Labour's position? We've asked again but they are being coy, having previously tweeted their support.

 

We are seeking responses from local Conservative MPs, Somerset Conservatives, Somerset Labour and Somerset Liberal Democrats.

 

It is worth noting that Somerset Labour's Twitter has been used to express support for the strikes, but as reported by The Mirror, the Labour Party led by Keir Starmer has issued an instruction to its "frontbench" MPs not to support the strikes or be seen on the picket lines. Labour MPs have claimed to not received the message.

 

Join Somerset Independents To Stand Up For Residents

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

UPDATE (2/7/22): Warburton Named by ITV Amongst Other "Embroiled" Tories - Confirmed Parliamentary Investigation - Here Is The Evidence That David Warburton Is Not Representing Somerset Residents at Parliament - So Who Is He Representing?

 

David Warburton
(Hiding?) Behind David Cameron at Wyke Farms
(source: Wyke Farms PR for 2015 Election)

David Warburton (right) at Wyke Farms
with David Cameron
(source: Wyke Farms PR)

UPDATE (2/7/22):

David Warburton has been named in an article by ITV News titled "All the Tories embroiled in sexual misconduct allegations since 2019".

If you remember, Somerset Independents approached the former Chief Whip Mark Spencer about David Warburton's performance as MP, over two years ago. Spencer took no action and confirmed this in a letter to our Leader Andrew Pope. The letter and further details can be seen elsewhere on this website.

In the ITV article, the Deputy Chief Whip has written another letter. This letter is from Chris Pincher MP to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is himself under investigation (again). Pincher, the Tamworth MP, has resigned as Deputy Chief Whip.

What is a "whip"? They are a party political appointment by the Conservative Party. Whips are supposed to enforce discipline amongst the parliamentary group of MPs.

Yet Pincher has admitted that he had "embarrassed myself". Warburton is under investigation on multiple counts as reported by Somerset Independents. The others named have either been confessed, convicted or are under investigation. 

How can it be that so many Conservative MPs are in this situation?

Why is it that Conservative MPs do not seem to be of the right calibre?

Somerset Independents is campaigning for ALL candidates for MP are independently checked for criminal records, before they can even be a candidate - let alone become an MP.

Do you agree with our campaign?

Contact us to tell us why. You can comment below (all comments are moderated due to spam). Contact us to help us make it happen. There is a Contact Form and you can get in touch via the link here.

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UPDATE (23/6/22):

It's CONFIRMED
Warburton Under ANOTHER Investigation

We have now been able to confirm that David Warburton is under investigation by the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards, Kathryn Stone.

The investigation relates to:

• "Paid advocacy" which is not allowed under the Code of Conduct for MPs 
• "Declaration of an interest"
• "Registration of an interest under Category 3 of the Guide to the Rules [Gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources]"
  

Warburton has denied wrongdoing and claims to have evidence in his defence. This investigation by the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards adds to the confidential misconduct investigation leaked by Conservative whips to the media, including the Sunday Times, and other allegations reported in the media including the Times, BBC and Guardian.

Somerset Independents awaits a response to our questions from the office of David Warburton MP.

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UPDATE(22/6/22): David Warburton is now reportedly under another investigation, as reported by The Times, BBC and Guardian. This time it relates to "paid advocacy and the failure to declare a gift or other benefit". We have not been able to confirm this against the Commissioner's register of investigations, as it does not appear there.

If you remember, we reported that Warburton voted with other Tory MPs to support the disgraced Tory MP Owen Paterson. This is mentioned in the Guardian report.

You can find our other reporting on David Warburton across the Somerset Independents website, by using the tags and the search facility.

Remember - we are not paid and are motivated volunteers who want to see better representation for residents.

It seems that Mr Warburton's time as Somerton and Frome MP may be coming to an end.

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We have been trying to keep Somerset residents who live in the Somerton and Frome Constituency informed, during the time that David Warburton is not acting for them at Parliament. Mr Warburton is under investigation and suspended as a Tory MP, yet constituents are being kept in the dark by Mr Warburton and local Tories.

Below is Warburton's recent record at Parliament. After the allegations surfaced, on 4th April 2022, the Prospect union that represents Parliamentary workers suggested that those who have been accused of sexual misconduct should be banned from the Parliamentary Estate. 

As the BBC reported Warburton being amid such claims, as did the Metro, what do you think? 

Do you think Warburton should be banned from Parliament completely?

Since the complaints surfaced via the Sunday Times, Warburton told the Telegraph that "I have heard nothing whatsoever from the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme." The ICGS is the parliamentary watchdog for such complaints of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. For MPs, it is overseen by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Stone.

But what is being done by the ICGS? Nobody seems to know. The process that is supposed to be followed is stated on the Parliament website. It is supposed to be confidential. So how did the media know? The BBC quoted "Conservative sources" and referred to The Sunday Times report.

Is Warburton banned from Parliament? We do not believe that this is the case and neither the ICGS nor the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards does not ban MPs from Parliament. But Warburton is suspended from the Tory Whip, so sits as a (fake) Independent. As we've said before, he is a Suspended Tory, not Indpendent.

The Somerton and Frome Conservative Association seemed to know more than the 80,000+ constituents of David Warburton, before they blocked our Twitter account when we asked them repeatedly to confirm the below facts of Warburton's performance as MP.

So is Warburton banned from Parliament? It is difficult to tell, because there is a lack of information. All we can do is report the facts from Parliamentary records.

In David Warburton's case, it does not seem to matter whether he is banned or not. But there is no evidence to suggest that he has physically been at Parliament.

We have asked Somerton and Frome Conservative Association for their response to the below facts. We awaited their substantive response but then they blocked our Twitter account.

The source of the information below is Parliament itself, processed via the https://TheyWorkForYou.com website.

1. According to Parliamentary records, Mr Warburton has not voted on anything at Parliament since 28th March 2022. This is even allowing for the fact that proxy votes have been allowed since Covid-19.
   
2. Mr Warburton did not submit any written answers from 8th March 2022 to 23rd May 2022, 11 weeks and almost three full months. Written answers can be submitted remotely and there are written answers outside those times.
   
3. Mr Warburton has not spoken at Parliament since 11th Jan 2022.  

Mr Warburton never did speak very often at Parliament. But when he did, it could be embarrassing. Let's not forget the shameful moments when David Warburton used Prime Minister's Questions to stand up for Wyke Farms (see above photos for perhaps why he did this), Warburton also voted to defend the disgraced Tory MP Owen Paterson, as reported by us.

And below is an update to Warburton's Register of Members Interests, also taken from TheyWorkForYou, from 13th June 2022 - it was late and if you look at Warburton's other interests that are registered, it will raise questions in your mind about who he really represents instead of the constituents that he is supposed to represent. SomersetLive reported on this on 14th June.

Where have SomersetLive been? Have they been publishing articles as clickbait instead of reporting on what matters to Somerset residents? It seems so.

Somerset Independents knew about the issues regarding Warburton's register of interests and who he really represents a long time ago and our reporting on this website shows it. That's because we are doing the job of holding Somerset's lazy and incompetent MPs to account. We are just volunteers - motivated ones, yes, but just volunteers.

It is a pity that too many of the local media outlets - who are paid staff - are not doing enough real journalism to serve democracy and Somerset's local residents.

A recent national report we have seen showed local news "deserts" and it appears that Somerset is one of them. Somerset Independents is doing what it can to report what matters to residents.

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David Warburton's 

"Register of Members’ Interests (from TheyWorkForYou)

Last updated: 13 Jun 2022.

3. Gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources

Name of donor: UK Music
Address of donor: Savoy Hill House, 7-10 Savoy Hill, London WC2R 0BU

Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: A ticket to the Brit Awards, value £900

Date received: 11 May 2021

Date accepted: 11 May 2021

Donor status: company, registration 3245288

(Registered 20 July 2021)

This is a late entry to which the rectification procedure was applied on 16 December 2021. Paragraph 15 of chapter 4 of the Guide to the Rules refers.

Name of donor: Betting and Gaming Council
Address of donor: 1st Floor, 90 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1EU

Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: A ticket to the Brits Awards, value £1,164

Date received: 8 February 2022

Date accepted: 8 February 2022

Donor status: company, registration 12213577

(Registered 14 February 2022)

7. (i) Shareholdings: over 15% of issued share capital

Oflang Limited, a property development company. (Registered 05 June 2016; updated 14 November 2016 and 4 December 2017)

9. Family members employed and paid from parliamentary expenses

I employ my wife, Harriet Warburton, as a Communications Officer and Personal Assistant. (Registered 05 June 2015)"

 

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Somerset Independents puts residents first. When residents come to us, we help them. We want to see better representation because the Westminster parties let Somerset down.

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

It's Confirmed - Months Later He's Back (Sort Of)! David Warburton Somerton and Frome's Suspended Tory MP

 

BBC Report From 3rd April 2022

Since we learned of the investigation into David Warburton MP's conduct, Somerset Independents has been trying to get information out to the 80,000+ constituents of the Somerton and Frome MP, who is supposed to serve as their Member of Parliament.

Warburton has been suspended from the Parliamentary Group of Conservative MPs pending the investigation.

And the Parliament website showed him as an "Independent".

We strongly refute that moniker. He is a Suspended Tory and not worthy of the name "Independent".

When our Leader Andrew Pope asked the Somerton and Frome Conservative Association if they had any update on 17th June, they told him:

"David Warburton is an Independent MP. Regarding constituency matters, he is running his office as normal - as reported on his website statement (6th May) - and was back in Somerset during the recess, holding meetings and dealing with a number of local issues."

David Warburton is an Independent MP. Regarding constituency matters, he is running his office as normal - as reported on his website statement (6th May) - and was back in Somerset during the recess, holding meetings and dealing with a number of local issues.

— Somerton & Frome Conservatives (@SFCAssociation) June 17, 2022

Yet there has been no update on David Warburton's website since 6th May. We checked again on 17th June. His Twitter account, something which he used to update regularly - remains missing.

The local Tory Association also told us:

"David Warburton is under strict confidentiality instructions not to say anything until the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) investigation has been completed and its recommendation passed to Kathryn Stone, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards."

Andrew Pope says: 

"How long is Somerton and Frome going to go without having a proper MP? The website has the Tory colours. But it is now hard to find any reference to the Conservative Party on the website.

The Parliament website continues to reference him as an 'Independent'.

Even Boris Johnson's Tory MPs and Government do not want to be associated with David Warburton.

And even his own Conservative Association refers to him as an 'Independent'.

He is nothing of the sort.

David Warburton is still a Tory.

But due to the investigation, David Warburton is a suspended Tory. We've checked the Parliamentary records and he hasn't spoken at Parliament since 11th January 2022. He hasn't voted for months.

Months later, David Warburton is still keeping his constituents in the dark, but the local Tories seem to have information that Warburton is not sharing with his constituents. Why? How? Where is the transparency? Where is the update from Warburton's office or from Parliament? Where are the Somerset reporters and journalists, other than Somerset Independents? If others have reported any updates, please can people tell Warburton's constituents?

David Warburton was banned from voting in the vote of confidence on Boris Johnson's leadership of the country, when he should have been voting for Johnson to go.

For that alone, David Warburton's position is untenable. He is a lame duck MP.
Boris Johnson's position is also untenable. He is also a lame duck Prime Minister - 40% of his own MPs want him to go and most of the rest are on Johnson's payroll, so they only voted to save their own jobs.
David Warburton must resign and a by-election must be called in the Constituency of Somerton and Frome.
If he does not resign, I hope that a General Election will be called and voters can express their views on Boris Johnson and Somerset's MPs including David Warburton."

 

 

Join Us To Stand Up For Residents

Somerset Independents puts residents first.

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.

UPDATE(18/7/22): VICTORY - ONE YEAR LATER - Information Commissioner Orders South Somerset District Council To Comply

A Council Mired in Controversy

UPDATE (18/7/22)

Yes, we are still battling with South Somerset District Council over information that we requested OVER A YEAR AGO.

Despite the Information Commissioner ruling, they have again tried to wriggle out of giving us the information. They again are trying to cover up for officers and councillors.

SSDC have apologised. They have claimed that they only keep emails for 13 months, but they've committed to going through backups, due to what they claim are "extenuating circumstances".

Somerset Independents will not let them get away with it.

 

UPDATE (20/6/22)

The Data Protection Officer has been in touch with Andrew Pope "to assist in submitting a refined request so that it falls within the cost limit".

We will see if SSDC provide the information that they should have done over a year ago.

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Our investigations into councillors in council tax arrears have now been running since early 2021.

South Somerset District Council's councillors were one council that we investigated. We have been battling with SSDC officers and councillors for over a year.

The lead investigator and Leader of Somerset Independents, Andrew Pope, has now received a Decision Notice from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), after complaining to them in May 2021 when SSDC did not provide the information that he had requested.

The ICO decision text is below.

In it, the ICO have ordered SSDC to comply, to clarify the information requested and the ICO also told SSDC that they were too slow.

But still, despite it being over a year since Andrew complained to the ICO, the investigation drags on.

We await the response of SSDC to the Decision Notice. Andrew says:

Lead Investigator Andrew Pope

 

"We have already been successful in exposing South Somerset councillors who persistently failed to pay their council tax.

Thankfully, none of them will be district councillors in less than a year's time - Bloomfield, Clarke, Hodgson and Pailthorpe will all go.

All except for SSDC Conservative Sue Osborne who was elected to the County Council that will become the New Somerset Council when the County and districts are scrapped.

It is an outrage that Conservative Councillor Nick Colbert referred to Cllr Osborne's arrears as 'trivial' when I contacted him and other Conservative councillors for comment. In typical party-political fashion, Cllr Colbert tried to deflect attention to the other problems at this Lib Dem-run Council, of which there are many. But I was not asking him about those at that time. I was asking him about his Conservative colleague.

We are delighted that our investigations have spurred local residents in Martock, Crewkerne and Chard into action, because they were so outraged at what we discovered for them. You can join us by contacting us and becoming a registered supporter.

This was no thanks to local media outlets who did not report on our investigations - West Country Voices, Somerset County Gazette, SomersetLive (Reach) and BBC Radio Somerset all ignored our success. Perhaps their readers and listeners will ask why they did not see it as in the public interest.

Thankfully The Leveller and Private Eye did report on our work.

But these cuckoo councillors including Osborne are still there at SSDC and are making decisions affecting many South Somerset residents' lives. They are still "on the nest" and cannot be removed by voters because there is no election.

They are cuckoo councillors that should resign, because the majority of residents tell us that councillors who do not pay their council tax for months or even years must go."

The ICO Decision Notice states:

"Decision notice
Date: 13 June 2022
Public Authority: South Somerset District Council
Address: The Council Offices
Brympton Way
Yeovil
Somerset
BA20 2HT
Complainant: Andrew Pope

Decision (including any steps ordered)
1. The complainant submitted a 4 part request regarding South Somerset councillors non-payment of council tax. South Somerset District Council (the Council) refused part 1 of the request as it considered it would exceed the cost limit under section 12(1) of FOIA. It also considered section 40(2) would provide a basis for withholding some of the information at the remaining parts of the request.
2. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has correctly applied section 12 of FOIA to refuse to comply with part one of the request. Because of this, section 12 of FOIA also applies to the rest of the request by default, as if the cost to comply with part one alone exceeds the appropriate limit, then the cost to comply with the request in its entirety will further exceed the appropriate limit. He has therefore not gone on to consider the application of section 40(2). However, the Council has breached section 16 as it failed to provide advice and assistance to the complainant in relation to part one of the request. The Commissioner also finds that the Council has breached section 10(1) of FOIA by failing to provide a valid response to the request within 20 working days.
3. The Commissioner requires the public authority to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation.

Provide advice and assistance to the complainant to assist them in
submitting a refined request.
4. The public authority must take these steps within 35 calendar days of the date of this decision notice. Failure to comply may result in the Commissioner making written certification of this fact to the High Court pursuant to section 54 of FOIA and may be dealt with as a contempt of court. 

Why Do We Do This?

Somerset Independents puts residents first. We are volunteers that work with other residents to get better representation and to stand up for residents.

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.