This is about Dennis. Dennis is not a candidate and not famous (until now). Dennis is the man who delivers the stakeboards and window posters in the South West Devon constituency. Most of the people are in densely populated suburbs around the eastern side of Plymouth, and a couple of smaller towns, but most of the constituency is very rural, running from Dartmoor down through the South Hams to the sea. We joked about Dennis delivering by boat, on a day when heavy rain and flooded roads prevented some people from getting home, and the trains didn't run on time, or even at all in some cases. But what he mainly had to contend with was mud. The South Hams "area of outstanding natural beauty" is in November an area of outstanding mud. We don't know exactly why we have to have an election in December, but we do know for sure why it's not usually chosen.
Anyway stakeboards are up in strategic locations, for the first people who volunteered to have them, and more to come. And a heap of posters to go out for windows.
On the map, the northern part where there are no place names, we don't deliver there, no-one lives on the hills there but sheep and ponies. And you can see the neighbouring constituency of Totnes, for all that Totnes is a pretty little town, it's a very rural area, with no real conurbation, and also runs from the moors to the sea coast. Around the country there must be many people like Dennis in wilder locations, and with winter coming on, not an easy job. Which leads us to wonder ... does anyone actually deliver by boat ?
GRAHAM REED - LIBERAL DEMOCRAT - PLYMOUTH SUTTON AND DEVONPORT
Graham stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Plymouth Sutton and Devonport Constituency in 2015 and for Moor View in 2017. He is delighted to have another chance to represent Plymouth.
Graham worked for many years manufacturing scientific apparatus for industry and science. He gained a degree in politics and was a City Councillor for five years. That work, representing local people in the community, gave him valuable experience and understanding to be able to tackle the major issues facing Plymouth and the West Country. He is currently Parish Councillor for Bere Ferrers. He is a lifelong supporter of liberal values and has always fought for these basic core principals and goals: a fairer voting system to ensure everyone has true, democratic representation; a strong and competent economy, a sustainable Environment, good housing, proper education and health care for all. He strongly supports co-operative owned businesses and Societies and is a director for Tamar Energy Community, an energy-saving co-op that is fighting Climate Change.
Sima is a secondary school English teacher and is standing as parliamentary candidate in South West Devon. She grew up in South West Devon experiencing the rural nature of the constituency on a daily basis, where her maternal grandfather had strong links with the local farming community. Wherever she has studied or travelled, the rolling green hills of the constituency are always a sure sign that she is nearly home.
The "Let Us be Heard" march in London on 19th October met its target of one million people, and there were great cheers in the streets outside Parliament when the government lost the vote on the Letwin Amendment. Lib Dems were present in large numbers, and prominent at the head of the march.
A number of Plymouth Lib Dems took part, and Sima Davarian, PPC for South West Devon, was in the group leading the march, just behind Caroline Voaden MEP.
