Philip Peers is the SDP prospective candidate for Torridge & Tavistock in Devon. We spoke with Philip about his decision to stand.
“Their policies align perfectly with my outlook on life and what I believe would deliver the best future for my family, community and nation”
Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
I am pleased to announce my selection as prospective parliamentary candidate for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the Torridge & Tavistock Constituency. I am a married father of two young children. I am a former town councillor for Tavistock. I work locally for an NHS Trust based in Plymouth and am a director of the estate management company for the estate in which I live.
What made you decide to stand for the SDP?
The SDP is a political party with policies that are patriotic, economically left-leaning and culturally traditional. Their policies align perfectly with my outlook on life and what I believe would deliver the best future for my family, community and nation.
“Simply put, this is the community in which I have the greatest stake in. It is my sincere wish for the people of this constituency and neighbouring ones to be the most healthy, prosperous, and fulfilled as they possibly can be”
You’re the Spokesman for Torridge & Tavistock what’s made you decide to represent this area?
This is the area that I was raised in from the age of 2 years old and continue to live in and raise my own family in. I have strong roots within the community having attended local state primary and secondary schools, worked for local businesses and where my friends and family live. Simply put, this is the community in which I have the greatest stake in. It is my sincere wish for the people of this constituency and neighbouring ones to be the most healthy, prosperous, and fulfilled as they possibly can be. It has been taken for granted by the Conservative Party for too long and become a forgotten land in the halls of Westminster.
“we have 8,500 households on the waiting list for social housing. It’s not just a lack of total numbers though but suitable housing in the right places”
What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?
Housing, employment and healthcare. These are the big three that will affect just about everyone. We have a chronic lack of housing, in Devon excluding the Unitary authority areas of Plymouth and Torbay we have 8,500 households on the waiting list for social housing. It’s not just a lack of total numbers though but suitable housing in the right places.
There is no coherent strategy for economic development in this part of the country. We lack high skilled, well-paid jobs in a vibrant private sector. This is caused to a great extent by being geographically isolated and lacking the infrastructure to allow for speedy and reliable public or private transport or even rural high-speed broadband. We need central government to form a coherent economic strategy for our region with massive investment in transport infrastructure and connectivity.
Healthcare, we have some of the poorest communities in the nation here with worse than average health outcomes. In the current financial year the NHS allocated the third highest amount of money per head of population to the Southwest ICB’s at £1,536. The formula for calculating this is based on various factors that determine the need of the population, poverty being a high indicator of poor health outcomes and the need for greater funding.
For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?
I would ask that any member of the SDP or any citizen concerned with the state of our communities and nation who is based in West Devon to get in touch with me at [email protected].
For more information on the party visit our website at https://sdp.org.uk/.
