Gransnet forums

News & politics

David Warburton

(37 Posts)
varian Thu 06-Apr-23 18:39:53

David Warburton: Calls for Somerset MP to resign after year's absence from Parliament

www.sDavid Warburton: Calls for Somerset MP to resign after year's absence from Parliament

More than a year ago David Warburton MP was expelled from the parliamentary Conservative Party because of a long list of serious allegations of misconduct - involving sex, drugs and dodgy Russian money.

Why have the decent people of Somerton and Frome not had the opportunity to vote this charlatan out?

varian Thu 06-Apr-23 20:07:15

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/david-warburton-calls-somerset-mp-8321954

varian Thu 06-Apr-23 20:09:24

amp.theguardian.com/politics/2022/apr/02/tories-suspend-david-warburton-amid-claims-over-sexual-harassment-and-drug-use

varian Fri 07-Apr-23 16:40:38

Yet another report from 53 weeks ago - this time from a Tory supporting newspaper

www.thesun.co.uk/news/18146881/conservative-mp-david-warburton-suspended-investigation-sexual-harassment-drug/

Why is this man still collecting his MP's salary?

There seems to be plenty of incriminating evidence of taking class A drugs.

The allegations of sexual harrassment were from three different women.

Why does it take more than a year for these allegations to be examined by the Parliamentary authorities and the police?

varian Sun 18-Jun-23 09:48:17

At long last the disgraceful Warburton has resigned so we will have a by-election. but if you are watching Laura Kurnsberg on the BBC you'd never know. Not a mention. I wonder why?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12206269/Conservative-MP-caught-sex-cocaine-sting-tells-MoS-Im-quitting.html

M0nica Sun 18-Jun-23 14:30:36

Bbecause he is yesterday's news and there are much more exciting bye-elections coming up.

Say 'Warburtons' and most people think bread.

25Avalon Sun 18-Jun-23 15:15:32

I remember he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital last year when this case emerged. Perhaps because of his mental state he was allowed to continue as an MP. IDK but it’s curious he has now finally handed his resignation in. This makes yet another by election but the boundaries for the constituency are being redrawn so that will be interesting when a GE does come.

varian Sun 18-Jun-23 18:48:38

The by-election will be held under the existing constituency boundaries. This constituency was represented by an excellent LibDem MP for 18 years before Warburton was elected in 2015.

In last year's elections for the new unitary authority of Somerset the LibDems took control of Somerset and the majority of those who voted in the Somerton and Frome constituency supported the LibDems.

The Liberal Democrats have selected Cllr Sarah Dyke as their candidate for the Somerton and Frome Constituency.

Sarah lives in the constituency and is from a Somerset farming family which can be traced back over 250 years in the local area. Sarah worked in the agricultural industry and is Lead Member for Environment and Climate Change on Somerset Council where she is spearheading rewilding programmes, investment in electric vehicle charging points and the council's zero-carbon targets.

Iam64 Sun 18-Jun-23 19:43:22

No surprise to read he claims to be the victim of a set up. Yes right, those photographs all staged

varian Sun 18-Jun-23 20:04:46

And what about the messages on his mobile phone saying "does your dealer do Westminster Bridge?" and commenting on £160 being a good price for his drugs?

Iam64 Sun 18-Jun-23 20:28:41

According to an article in the Guardian/Observer on lind, Panorama has dropped its investigation into ‘sex pests’ in Parliament
Why?

Casdon Sun 18-Jun-23 20:40:51

Iam64

According to an article in the Guardian/Observer on lind, Panorama has dropped its investigation into ‘sex pests’ in Parliament
Why?

Perhaps they are planning a series?
Unfortunately it seems that there are plenty of them, in all parties. I really think there should be a change in the rules so that by elections become the norm for when MPs lose the whip for serious issues like this.

welbeck Sun 18-Jun-23 20:41:09

maybe there is something legal going on ?

M0nica Sun 18-Jun-23 21:56:45

It may also be a case of revenge being a dish best served cold.

When the news of his drug taking and other behaviour hit the news and the Conservative Whip was with drawn, he has sat for his constituency as an Independent.

In the current hiatus with three bye-elections already happening and a possible fourth pending, what better way of sticking in the knife and turning it, than deciding to resign his seat now so that the Conservatives face yet another bye-election in a seat they are very likely to lose.

Grantanow Mon 19-Jun-23 18:08:10

Thank God he's gone. Maybe we can now have a real MP.

varian Mon 19-Jun-23 20:13:49

Ed Davey has kicked off Liberal Democrat bid to win Somerton & Frome by-election

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey made his first by-election campaign visit to Somerton & Frome where he met the Liberal Democrat candidate Sarah Dyke and local activists in Castle Cary.

During his visit, Ed Davey told campaigners it is "either a sleaze ridden Conservative party or the local Liberal Democrats in Somerton & Frome." Next month, people across Somerton & Frome will finally have the chance to get the representation in Westminster they deserve.

After addressing local campaigners Ed Davey headed out with Lib Dem candidate Sarah Dyke to knock on doors and listen to local people about their concerns.

The Liberal Democrats have proven to be the best challengers against the Conservative party in rural Blue Wall seats like this one. In last year's local elections the Liberal Democrats won 16 of the 26 seats in the constituency with the Party's candidate Sarah Dyke beating the head of the "Lib Dem Unit" at Conservative Headquarters.

Previous elections show it's a clear contest, with only the Liberal Democrats able to win against the Conservatives. Labour trailed in a poor third place at the last General Election, the Liberal Democrats previously held the seat from 1997 until 2010.

Sarah Dyke will be asking Labour supporters to back her and elect a local champion and send a shock result to this Conservative Government.

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/somerset-councillor-stand-lib-dems-7076011

Casdon Mon 19-Jun-23 21:54:53

Why do you think it would be a shock result varian, as it was previously a Lib Dem seat anyway? I’d be very surprised if they didn’t win it back.

varian Tue 20-Jun-23 09:16:02

I think this is now expected to be a LibDem win, in spite of Warburton having a majority of over 19,000 at the last election tion.

Grantanow Tue 20-Jun-23 12:31:40

Probably a Lib Dem win though I don't think much of the candidate.

FionaG Tue 20-Jun-23 13:23:58

Im just a bit wary of the boundary change which will mean Milborne Port living Sarah Dyke will represent Frome but not her area which will move to the Glastonbury bit. The boundary changes will kick in the next GE presumably next year?

varian Tue 20-Jun-23 13:29:14

Sarah Dyke lives near Wincanton and has made it clear she intends to represent her own area in the new constituency which includes Glastonbury.

This by-election is based on the existing constituency of Somerton and Frome and Sarah is very strong Lib Dem candidate with an impressive record as a councillor.

varian Tue 20-Jun-23 14:11:40

After last year's election for the new unitary authority of Somerset, the Tory supporting Spectator magazine reported

"One declaration in Somerset will particularly trouble Conservative high command after the party’s expert on defeating the Liberal Democrats was himself defeated, er, by the Liberal Democrats.

For incumbent councillor Hayward Burt has been soundly beaten in the Blackmoor Vale ward for Somerset Council, losing alongside his colleague William Wallace to two Lib Dems Sarah Dyke and Nicola Clark. The two Tories gained 1,443 and 1,328 votes respectively, compared to Dyke on 1,814 and Clark on 1,590.

Burt runs the ‘Lib Dem unit’ over at CCHQ and last year ran a ‘masterclass‘ for the Conservative Women’s 5 "

varian Sat 08-Jul-23 20:01:01

As a voter in Somerton and Frome, I have received several communications from the LibDem candidate Sarah Dyke and one each from four other candidtates.

Today I got a letter addressed to me by name from the Conservative candidate, who does not live in the constituency.

It starts - "I know you didn't want this by-election. Trust me, no-one did"

I do want this by-election and everyone I have spoken to has wanted this by-election for more than a year since the disgraceful David Warburton was suspended, leaving us unrepresented.

How dare this person tell me what I do or don't want. She claims that she hasn't spoken to anyone who wants this by-election. Is she just hopelessly out of touch or is this just another pack of lies from the Tories?

Casdon Sat 08-Jul-23 21:38:03

varian

As a voter in Somerton and Frome, I have received several communications from the LibDem candidate Sarah Dyke and one each from four other candidtates.

Today I got a letter addressed to me by name from the Conservative candidate, who does not live in the constituency.

It starts - "I know you didn't want this by-election. Trust me, no-one did"

I do want this by-election and everyone I have spoken to has wanted this by-election for more than a year since the disgraceful David Warburton was suspended, leaving us unrepresented.

How dare this person tell me what I do or don't want. She claims that she hasn't spoken to anyone who wants this by-election. Is she just hopelessly out of touch or is this just another pack of lies from the Tories?

Perhaps she is telling the truth because she’s only spoken to known Tory voters?

Grantanow Sun 09-Jul-23 17:44:55

I've postal voted Lib Dem to get the Tories out in Somerton and Frome so we might get a Labour government after 13 years of mess but I would have preferred another candidate. The LibDems are very busy - umpteen leaflets through the door - they're obviously spending. I just hope they don't go into coalition with the Tories. Yes, I know, but that's what they said last time.