You can’t have escaped the fact that, unusually for December, we have had a general election. Given that all the candidates standing were complete newcomers to the North Devon political scene, we were always going to get a brand new MP. But we’ve also got North Devon’s very first female MP too.
Meet Selaine Saxby, the new Conservative MP for North Devon who romped to victory over her competitors at the polls on December 12. But who is Selaine? And what is she going to do for us when she gets to Westminster?
Well, Selaine lives in Instow and before being elected MP she was also the local member for North Devon District Council. She has run her own business, been chief of staff to Ben Howlett MP in Bath and most recently trained to become a teacher at Bideford College.
Speaking on the North Devon Conservatives website, Selaine said: “I have a wealth of fund raising experience having raised over £500K for breast cancer charities through a series of charity aerobathons I founded and ran called Pink Aerobics. I come from a family of teachers and am passionate about access to education and ensuring all children receive an excellent one. My father was Head of a large coastal comprehensive and I am state school educated myself with a first from Cambridge.”
On the website she lists her main political priorities, which are: • To get Brexit done! I voted Leave. I back Boris. And I believe in democracy. We should deliver the result of the 2016 referendum as rapidly as possible. • Fight for fairer funding for local public services, especially education, health and local councils. • Deliver better transport links to North Devon and work to integrate these so our local road network keeps moving. • Champion our beautiful coast and countryside and oppose developments that will impact negatively, whilst working with local communities to deliver much needed affordable housing. • Work to improve local job opportunities through supporting our farming economy, tourism, manufacturing and retail. • Ensure North Devon’s voice is heard in Westminster.
For more information, or to contact Selaine, visit www.northdevonconservatives.org.uk.