Everything You Need to Know About Claire Wright, the Independent Councillor Hoping to Be East Devon's Next MP

The next General Election is fast-approaching, and this one promises to be an extraordinary event for a number of reasons. Not only will this be the first December election to take place in the UK since 1923, but it will also be the most unpredictable. With the election originally being called in an attempt to break the parliamentary stalemate that has occurred due to Brexit. This may be the first time where no political party in the UK has an inherent advantage.

With multiple parties vying for supremacy, it's clear that the two-horse race is well and truly over. A politician's Brexit stance has become far more important than the colors on their badge, which is one of the reasons why this election has looked more promising for independent candidates than any time in recent history.

One such independent is Devon's very own Claire Wright, who is currently running for MP in an attempt to end over 150 years of Conservative Party domination in her East Devon constituency. What's more, her chances of winning look quite favourable. Here's everything you need to know about Claire Wright ahead of the 12 December General Election.

Claire Wright is a relative newcomer to politics, especially in the context of the career politicians that have traditionally governed this part of Devon. She was first voted to Devon County Council in 2013 with a staggering 74% vote share, replacing former independent councillor Roger Giles. She was later re-elected to her Otter Valley ward in 2017 with a 75% share of the vote.

She has stood for election on the national stage twice, coming second behind the Conservative Party both times. In 2017 she came in second by Tory MP Sir Hugo Swire, winning far more votes than the Labour and Lib Dem candidates combined.

She has been very outspoken about her desire to enact dramatic political change in East Devon, recently telling Devon Live that she is "the only viable alternative" to Conservative rule and a politician with a track record that proves her ability to enact meaningful change. She has spent much of her political career thus far engaged in local issues such as social care and transport, while often steering clear of party politics and partisan issues.

What Do Her Chances Look Like?

While Wright is certainly shaping up to be a formidable frontrunner against whichever Conservative candidate that the Tories decide to field in East Devon, it's not clear whether she'll finally be elected to Parliament in 2019. As the latest General Election betting odds on Betway show, the Conservatives currently boast 1.14 odds of gaining the largest share of votes, as well as 1.06 odds of gaining the most seats.

This, taken with the fact that East Devon has traditionally been viewed as one of the safest Tory seats in the country for over a century, suggests that Wright has her work cut out for her. In addition, Wright faces another obstacle in the form of Brexit. While the Greens, SNP, and Plaid Cymru have been forming electoral pacts up and down the country to tactically defeat Conservative candidates, Wright will not be benefitting from this.

According to the Sidmouth Herald, Remain candidates will not be backing down to support Wright's candidacy, despite the fact that she is an ardent Remain supporter and the politician with the best odds to take on the Conservatives. This means that she will be fighting for the Remain vote against numerous other parties and candidates, although the campaign group Unite for Remain has stated that Wright is their preferred candidate.

Wright's Brexit position is pretty clear. She states on her website that she believes Boris Johnson's Brexit deal would leave the UK "poorer and weaker", which is why she supports a second referendum, in which she would campaign to Remain. However, it's not all about Brexit.

Wright is largely concerned with public services such as education and improving local funding for the NHS, and has spent much of her career campaigning for these services to receive more funding in East Devon, a constituency that currently sits at the bottom of the funding league tables. She is also a staunch environmentalist who has placed a heavy focus on protecting Devon's natural wildlife and biodiversity, something she sees as being under threat.

While Wright has a big battle ahead of her, there is reason to be hopeful. As the last three years have shown, nothing is predictable in British politics. Wright may just well be the first independent MP in East Devon's history.