Philippa Davies

23 hours ago | westcountryvoices.co.uk | Philippa Davies

It may not look like a major uprising , but this is part of something huge. This was Exeter’s first Tesla Takedown protest against Elon Musk’s assault on democracy and human rights in the US, and his wider support for the far right. On Saturday, 3 May, local activists including Devon-based Americans demonstrated outside the Tesla dealership and EV charging point on the Marsh Barton industrial estate – home to most of the city’s biggest car showrooms.

2 weeks ago | westcountryvoices.co.uk | Philippa Davies

Reform UK’s boast that they’re ‘the voice of the people’ is quite a claim. Are they performing a combination of mind-reading and ventriloquism? That would bring to mind those unconvincing magicians on 1970s TV variety shows – probably not the image Nigel Farage and his crew are aiming for. No – they mean their party represents the views of ordinary, salt-of-the-earth members of the British public – views some voters can’t express in our ‘woke’ society.

1 month ago | westcountryvoices.co.uk | Philippa Davies

The irony meter must be peaking like one of South West Water’s storm overflow monitors. Former East Devon Conservative MP Simon Jupp, who was an outspoken critic of the utility firm, has taken a job with its parent company, Pennon, advising on community engagement. During his time as an MP Mr Jupp did plenty of mud-slinging at South West Water, usually over the frequent reports of sewage spills in his constituency’s coastal towns.

1 month ago | westcountryvoices.co.uk | Philippa Davies

“Wherever it is found, hunger highlights the fault lines of inequality that run through that society.”In our society, that could indicate the effects of political austerity measures, including the latest benefit cuts. On a global level, it could point to the people in the world’s poorest nations whose crops are being destroyed by the climate crisis. Hunger affects the powerless.

1 month ago | westcountryvoices.co.uk | Philippa Davies

Celebration lunches, chocolates and a glass of fizz will be on the menu this Sunday, 30 March, as families get together for Mothering Sunday. But for one group of women in Plymouth, the table will be bare – except for leaflets, stickers and other material demanding an end to child hunger and poverty. Six local women are taking part in a 24-hour hunger strike as part of the Mother’s Manifesto campaign. They and their supporters will be at Plymouth Sundial between 11am and 4pm.