The Herald of November 29 published a long letter from Councillor Phil Twiss, the Conservative whip on East Devon District Council (“Have whip, but don’t ever use it”).

Phil Twiss challenges me to get Conservative councillors to tell the Herald that he has whipped them.

Of course, no Conservative councillor would do so – unless they wished to become ex-Conservative councillors in the very near future.

If I may say so, a much more sensible suggestion, which might prove to be of interest to Herald readers, is a public debate.

I hope that Phil Twiss will agree to a debate between myself, or another Independent councillor, and himself, or another Conservative councillor, on the subject of openness and transparency in local government.

Councillor Roger Giles

Ottery Town (Independent)

East Devon District Council