Honiton: Nub News’ People Panel have their say on the latest by-election stories

Honiton Nub News has created a 'People's Panel' consisting of five local residents who will be commenting on the by-election campaign over the next few days.

You can read their first article here.

Dan Cloute (49) is family man and postman from Honiton.

1. It is less than a week to go until the by-election. Have you read or seen anything that has made you reconsider your vote - or anything that has reinforced your decision? 

The Liberal Democrats have risen like a phoenix from the ashes. There's clearly an opportunity here - one they wouldn't have got without some help from Mr Parish, but you've got to take your chances when they come along. 

 If they can get in, they then need to convince us that they're worthy by knocking out some popular policies otherwise they'll be voted out next time. Good luck to them!

 The Lib Dems seem to be everywhere right now around Honiton, be it foot soldiers or posters; I have seen only one Conservative poster and no Labour in people's windows.

2. Helen Hurford was booed at a hustings event this week when asked about Boris Johnson's character and honesty. Do you think it is fair to attack Ms Hurford for Boris Johnson's behaviour? 

Helen Hurford seems sound enough but she's been thrown into the lion's den. But. if you're attending a husting event, you're going to get hustled.

 When you're in a Catch-22 situation (like she was when asked about Boris Johnson's honesty), any answer was going to be met with vitriol.

 She can't openly call her boss a liar when she's running in a by-election - she wants his support. I don't blame her for standing up for him, right now when she's running a campaign, but further down the line perhaps she'd give a different answer?

 3. Do you think it is right that Boris Johnson might face further investigations, or should we move on from any alleged rule breaking?

 I'm a bit fed up hearing Boris Johnson's rule breaking shenanigans. Yes, he broke the rules; should he be sacked? Maybe. Will he be? No.

 However much importance people put on this story, it has now spilt over into so many important life and death situations that demand maximum attention. It has dragged on through a war and continues to do so and sometimes takes up as many column inches in the daily papers. 

 Charge him with something, but another investigation? Yawn…..

 Harry Carlton (25) is politics graduate.

1. Less than a week to go until the by-election. Have you read or seen anything that has made you reconsider your vote - or anything that has reinforced your decision? 

I haven't seen anything that would make me reconsider my vote. The Liberal Democrats seem to be the only party with a realistic chance of beating Boris Johnson's party (emphasis on the last word...)

2. Helen Hurford was booed at a hustings event this week when asked about Boris Johnson's character and honesty. Do you think it is fair to attack Ms Hurford for Boris Johnson's behaviour? 

I don't know exactly what her answer was that was met with booing, but if it was at all similar to her recent comments about partygate I'm not surprised.

She would have done well to try and distance herself from a lawbreaking PM who thinks we're all suckers for obeying the rules he made. I found Hurford's recent comments condemning the media for reporting partygate rather than Johnson's disrespectful behaviour to be tone deaf.

 Given her lack of appreciation of the gravity of the offences committed, you have to wonder whether she has the integrity needed to restore trust after Parish's behaviour.

3. Do you think it is right that Boris Johnson might face further investigations, or should we move on from any alleged rule breaking?

It's absolutely right for him to he investigated for alleged lying.

 Most readers will be aware that the police investigation was into the actual offences, the parliamentary investigation is into whether he knowingly lied about committing them.

 The police fines indicate criminality, if the committee finds he was untruthful it also tells us something about his character. I think a lot of us know the answer to the question already, but for those who aren't sure it's important they have the facts.

Ex-celebrant Ann Mitchel (82) lives in Honiton.

 1. Less than a week to go until the by-election. Have you read or seen anything that has made you reconsider your vote - or anything that has reinforced your decision? 

I met the Liberal Democrats last Wednesday but they did not seem to have any policies, and when asked what they would do on any given problem, they had no answer.

 So no, I haven't seen anything that would make me change my mind.

 2. Helen Hurford was booed at a hustings event this week when asked about Boris Johnson's character and honesty. Do you think it is fair to attack Ms Hurford for Boris Johnson's behaviour? 

I don't think it at all fair that Helen Hurford was booed. She is representing the Conservatives, not necessarily Boris [Johnson]. My one big worry is that Boris being in charge will damage the Conservative party.

3. Do you think it is right that Boris Johnson might face further investigations, or should we move on from any alleged rule breaking?

I wish that the need for yet another investigation into Boris's alleged rule-breaking was not necessary, but I fear parliament will not be satisfied until this happens.

 Because of the problems we are facing - cost-of living-crisis, Ukrainian war, global warming, overpopulation, immigration crisis, NHS problems, education, Brexit…. this is not the time to be fighting over Boris. We have got to get behind the Government to come up with ideas with dealing with all these problems.

 When the time comes for a general election that is the time when Boris will be judged. Until that time let him get on with the job he was elected to do.

 Miriam Thomas (65) is a local environmentalist.

1. Less than a week to go until the by-election. Have you read or seen anything that has made you reconsider your vote - or anything that has reinforced your decision? 

I'm too long in the tooth to be affected by electioneering! New MPs cannot expect to influence party politics as they too often say they will. The MP needs to learn about their constituency and the people they represent, tackle individual issues and get them resolved that would make a good MP.

2. Helen Hurford was booed at a hustings event this week when asked about Boris Johnson's character and honesty. Do you think it is fair to attack Ms Hurford for Boris Johnson's behaviour? 

 Only ignorant fools will boo someone as it does nothing and achieves nothing. It is childish and usually from individuals who do not engage in community activities. 

3. Do you think it is right that Boris Johnson might face further investigations, or should we move on from any alleged rule breaking?

 Yes, he should be investigated. 

 Boris [Johnson] or, as I prefer to call him, Doris, behaves like a fourth former who been caught smoking again. His behaviour is intolerable for any decent human being. He has no backbone to admit he is not up to public service.

 Jim Green is a Honiton based pensioner.

1. Less than a week to go until the by-election. Have you read or seen anything that has made you reconsider your vote - or anything that has reinforced your decision? 

I checked out Frankie Rufolo's website… seems like a bright young chap and good luck to him with this. He's going nowhere this time, of course, but there is a strong anti 'Woke' mood developing in England. 

Interestingly, I did see a UKIP car zooming down New Street over the weekend. They were going somewhere in a hurry, but it won't be Westminster!

By the way, this is the first time in my life that I won't be voting Tory.

2. Helen Hurford was booed at a hustings event this week when asked about Boris Johnson's character and honesty. Do you think it is fair to attack Ms Hurford for Boris Johnson's behaviour? 

 I have nothing against Helen Hurdord, but she is learning that politics is not all 'beer and skittles' and it will certainly end in tears. It always does.

Is she tough enough? We will find out. I'm not going to vote for her because the Tories do not deliver on their promises… but neither does anyone else. It's all about my conscience really.

 Read more:

Honiton: By-election round-up