IN 1997 the Lib Dem MP for Torridge and West Devon said in his election address: 'The (Conservative) Government funds Devon Schools £100 less per child than the average for the rest of England.' He pledged to fight for a 'fair deal for Devon' and said that 'South West Liberal Democrat MPs will use the influence you give us in parliament to fight for Devon'.
In 2002, local primary school headteacher Brian Cunningham is still demanding a 'Fair Deal for Devon Schools'. So whatever happened to the 'influence' those Lib Dem MPs confidently promised they would wield to Devon's advantage?
Current differentials suggest that local schools were better funded under the Conservatives than they are at present!
I do hope that our local MP will not think that what he said in 1997 has been forgotten.
When he was first voted in, he promised to 'make a difference', something that both he and this Labour Government have failed to do for education over the last five years.
If the Lib Dem MPs had actually delivered what they promised, and the Lib Dem County Council had cut bureaucracy at county council after losing responsibility for Torbay and Plymouth, our local schools might have been better funded than they are at present.
So is it fair to say we've had a raw deal?
James McInnes
Chairman
West Devon and
Torridge
Conservatives