Tory county councillor de-selected

NORTH Devon county councillor Rodney Cann has been de-selected as a Conservative candidate for the Fremington Rural ward in June's elections. His place as official candidate will be taken by Fremington district councillor John Gill following a North Dev

NORTH Devon county councillor Rodney Cann has been de-selected as a Conservative candidate for the Fremington Rural ward in June's elections.His place as official candidate will be taken by Fremington district councillor John Gill following a North Devon Conservative Association meeting last night (Wednesday).Mr Cann told the Gazette: "It is Business as Usual. I take a very positive view of my future and what I have to offer North Devon . Now is not the time for recriminations or further comment."The challenge to Mr Cann's position came after he publicly backed a single unitary authority solution for local government in Devon, which would mean the demise of North Devon Council, of which he is also a member.

Mr Cann has been a Conservative district councillor since 1976, except for one four-year period.