Ellee Seymour

I was amazed to read today that a 19-year old Liberal Democrat student based at York University won a Norfolk district council seat in a by-election this week.

The Lib Dems always make a big deal about candidates not living in their constituency, even if they are just two miles out. Yet here they are not only supporting Ben McGilvray who lives 180 miles away, but then winning the seat with a stomping majority of 614, winning 62.5% of the vote.

“Every resident has, or should have, my mobile number and that will allow me to keep in touch with people. They are quite welcome to ring me 24/7,” he told the Eastern Daily Press.

Only time will tell if Ben can keep his well-intentioned promise to have regular contact with local constituents, particularly as he has pledged to fight proposals for a planned eco-town.

Realistically, how can Ben commit sufficient time to his council duties, attend meetings and lead local campaigns when he lives so far away, as well as work hard at his studies for a good degree? They are both hugely demanding roles.

Ben won the seat in Wroxham for Broadland District Council and has the honour of being the council’s youngest ever member since it was created in 1974. A fellow Lib Dem, Hugh Lanham, also secured victory the same day in Walsingham for North Norfolk District Council. Conservatives came second in both, and Labour trailed behind dismally finishing last. Both these seats had previously been held by Independent candidates.

These results demonstrate that despite our success in the polls, Conservatives cannot be complacent, and we should certainly not be measuring up for curtains at 10 Downing Street.

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Ever since my mother-in-law died last month, my mother Loula has been anxious to visit the country of her birth, Greece. She particularly wanted to stay in a favourite hotel in Rhodes where she had spent many happy holidays with my late father.

Unfortunately, it was not possible to arrange because the flights from Gatwick were either too early or too late. So my sister Rosalind put plan B into operation – a weeks cruise around the Greek islands flying from Norwich Airport to Corfu in the middle of the afternoon. It seemed perfect.

They should have arrived by now and been relaxing in the deluxe cabin my sister booked. Instead, they are stranded in a hotel in Italy after treacherous weather conditions made it impossible for the plane to land in Greece.

Their problems started when the flight was delayed three hours. Then a knife my mother and sister had with their hand luggage to cut up some apples was, of course, confiscated. I had warned them about the limits on fluids they could take through security, but it never occurred to me that they would take a kitchen knife with them for their packed lunch. My mother’s request to collect it on her return journey was denied!

Then her black ankle strap sandals set off the security alarm; they are more rock chick or punky than anything sensible like Dr Scholls. “Dare you wear them?” she asked me defiantly last weekend.

After finally making it to the plane, they were warned about horrendous storms in Corfu, said to have the shortest runway in the world, and the flight was diverted to Italy where they spent half the night sitting on the tarmac watching the Mediterranean rain pour down and waiting for someone to make a decision.

In the small hours of the morning they were transferred to a hotel opened specially for them where they still remain.

“I’m just popping down to security to ask them where we are,” said my very patient sister, who has persuaded my mother that this is quite an adventure. I’m waiting for her to tell me their location, but I get the feeling it’s irrelevant anyway.

Mum is happy to have found a flirtatious Greek traveller and they have bonded and been singing many of her favourite songs; she does have a terrific voice.

The latest plan is that they fly to Heraklion in Crete this evening and spend the night in a hotel before joining their cruise ship tomorrow. It’s a shame that their time on the ship has been cut by at least two nights as this was meant to be a very special trip for mum.

It certainly will be a memorable one. But I wonder what the odds are of me arriving in Manchester first tomorrow evening for the Conservative conference before they set foot on their ship…

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