Newbury district councillor is 'no paper candidate'

Conservative Party defends decision to field a Hungerford resident as candidate for Victoria ward

THE Conservative Party has defended its decision to field a Hungerford resident for the Victoria ward in Newbury.

Tory Dennis Benneyworth was elected to the ward – one of Newbury’s key seats – after beating long-serving Liberal Democrat councillor Roger Hunneman by just four votes after three recounts.

Mr Benneyworth announced his resignation as mayor of Hungerford, but will continue to serve on Hungerford Town Council.

It has prompted questions as to how effective a councillor he can be without having any association to the area he represents.

Mr Hunneman, who served as a district councillor for 12 years said: “I presume they [the Conservatives] could not find anyone else. The fact he doesn’t live anywhere near Newbury makes it doubly annoying that I wasn’t elected.

“He is going to find it difficult to serve the residents of Victoria ward if he doesn’t live there – he is never going to fully understand the issues.

“Based on the national trend, the Tories must have thought they had some chance of getting into Victoria and I think they have treated the residents with a certain degree of contempt.”

Many departing Liberal Democrats councillors have argued that they were victims of the local and General Election being held on the same day and that residents had in part voted with the national picture in mind.

Conservative agent Dominic Boeck, defended the decision to field Mr Benneyworth, insisting he was not a ‘paper candidate’.

Mr Boeck, who was himself elected to Aldermaston ward, said: “I always prefer to field a candidate who lives in their ward.

“We had a vacancy and I put him forward. The people of Victoria voted for him, so it shows I was right to field him.

“I chose him based on his qualities as a candidate, he ticks all the boxes and he will work hard for the Victoria ward.

“I do not share the concerns of people who think he won’t be effective because he doesn’t live in Victoria.

“I am always determined not to put any ‘paper candidates’ forward. I believe in going for success. I am delighted he won.”

Mr Boeck added that unlike the parish and town council elections, where the candidate has to live within three miles of their ward, the only qualifying criteria for district council elections is that they have to live in the district.

Despite repeated attempts to contact Mr Benneyworth, the NWN was unable to get hold of him before going to press.

Mr Boeck added: “I have a lot of respect for Roger and the others who lost their seats and of course I do feel a certain degree of sympathy, but that’s politics for you.

“Before I was elected in 2011 I was unsuccessful seven times, so I know how it feels to miss out.”

To se Mr Benneyworth's reaction, see this week's Newbury Weekly News, out on Thursday.