Honiton and Sidmouth Conservatives have said that Keir Starmer's resignation does not change the damage caused by Labour's policies, warning that a likely Andy Burnham premiership would be even worse for rural communities across Devon and the South West.
The Conservatives argue that Labour's problems run far deeper than one individual. Since entering government, Labour has raised taxes, abandoned welfare reforms, presided over rising unemployment, failed to tackle illegal migration and increasingly prioritised urban areas at the expense of rural Britain.
Local Conservatives say Devon has already felt the consequences, pointing to the abolition of the Rural Services Delivery Grant and growing concerns that funding is being concentrated in large metropolitan authorities while rural areas are expected to make do with less.
Dominic Nancekievill, Chairman of Honiton & Sidmouth Conservatives, said:
"Keir Starmer's resignation changes the name on the door of Number 10, but it does not change Labour's record. The same Labour MPs who backed higher taxes, abandoned welfare reform, failed to stop illegal migration and weakened business confidence are now preparing to choose his successor."
"What should concern people across East and Mid Devon is the prospect of Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister. Labour has already shown where its priorities lie. The Rural Services Delivery Grant has been scrapped, while funding continues to flow towards large urban authorities. Communities across Devon are too often left with the scraps, and I fear that would only get worse under Andy Burnham."
"Locally, residents should not be fooled into thinking the Liberal Democrats are an alternative. Richard Foord and the Liberal Democrats may wear yellow rosettes, but time and again they end up helping Labour. The Liberal Democrats will never form a majority government capable of replacing Labour. At best, they will prop Labour up through some form of coalition or confidence arrangement."
"For voters who want Labour out, the numbers matter. Current constituency projections from both Britain Votes Now and Devon Elects place the Conservatives ahead of Reform UK in Honiton and Sidmouth. Reform cannot remove Richard Foord here, but the Conservatives can. If people want to defeat both Labour nationally and the Liberal Democrats locally, the Conservative Party remains the clearest route to achieving that."
Honiton and Sidmouth Conservatives said they would continue campaigning across East and Mid Devon for lower taxes, stronger defence, support for rural communities and a Conservative government led by Kemi Badenoch.
