Tory party say donation 'did not result in pressure or influence'
A Devon MP has discussed a donation given to the local party association
Last updated 17th Jan 2023
A Devon MP has responded to criticism by campaigners who've just lost a high court battle over the right to wild camp - without permission - on Dartmoor.
They claim the Totnes Conservative Association was given a donation of £5,000 by the hedge fund manager who now owns the land.
Local MP Anthony Mangnall says it was declared in 2019 under the normal rules - and has not influenced his position on Friday's High Court ruling,
Last week Sir Julian Flaux, the chancellor of the High Court, ruled that the right to wild camp did not exist across Dartmoor - which means the Darwalls can move people off their land.
Mr Mangnall said: "I should say from the outset that I am 100% supportive of the right to roam across our national parks and fully appreciate the benefits of outdoor exercise. I have spent quite some time as the Member of Parliament for Totnes working on how we can keep public footpaths up to scratch, and even more time working on how we can improve outdoor learning, including ensuring that people are able to make use of what is on their doorstep.
"Regarding the High Court’s decision about wild camping, I do not believe it is right for a Member of Parliament to second guess legal experts, especially given the independence of the courts. However, it is clear that the decision is a huge disappointment to many people, both locally and nationally, and I understand that Dartmoor National Park Authority is considering its next steps. Please note, there is no question as to the public’s right to walk
"Regarding the donation Mr Darwall gave to the Totnes Conservative Association, I should make it clear that this money did not go to me personally but to my association. That donation was given in late 2019 and no further donations have been made. This donation was in line with the rules set out by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, and does not come with any influence or pressure.
"Our countryside is of great importance and over the coming days, I will be working to see how we might be able to secure extra funding from central government to attract more people to this extraordinary part of Devon. "
Campaigners trying to protect the right to roam are staging a protest walk this Saturday, Details here
A spokesperson for the campaign said: "We are calling on the spirit of Old Crockern, the ancient protector of the moor, to oppose this decision. Old Crockern represents the values that sit within our campaign and those that embody Dartmoor: inclusivity, freedom, growth, relationship and humanity.
"We call on the many generations of people who love Dartmoor; locals, visitors, campers, farmers, walkers, students, naturalists, land workers, fishers, climbers, swimmers, bikers, canoeists, stonewallers, hedge layers, spirits old and new, to join us in opposition."
It comes as Richard Foord, Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton & Honiton, has tabled a motion in Parliament 'celebrating the success of the Ten Tors challenge and calling for the Government to bring forward new legislation to safeguard people’s right to use Dartmoor National Park for wild camping'.
He warned: "A recent High Court judgement ruled that individual Dartmoor landowners have the right to remove people from land they own within Dartmoor National Park. There has been growing concern about how this will be enforced and the implications it would have.
"Many are concerned that this will undermine the vital tourist industry across the South West, and also impact events that rely on Dartmoor for training, such as the Ten Tors Challenge and the Duke of Edinburgh award."
Mr Foord says he wants to see 'people’s right to access and utilise National Park land to be protected, particularly for wild camping, which many people in the South West often enjoy. - and is calling for the Government to respond to the ruling with new legislation to guarantee this right, protect our National Parks, and has called on MPs from across the West Country to back his motion'.
Commenting on the situation, Richard Foord MP said: “Dartmoor is an amazing place. It is one of the few areas in England where you can cut away from the noise of 21st century life and get lost in nature. Spending the night on Dartmoor allows you to properly switch-off from the sound and fury of modern life.
“The recent ruling means that our right to pitch a tent is now at risk of being brought to an end by wealthy landowners. It should not be the case that vast tracts of our National Park are effectively fenced off to the public.
“So many people have been in touch with me to express their anger at the ruling and concern about how our green spaces are to be used. Dartmoor is a place for rest, recuperation and healing, and it should stay that way.
“The Conservative Government must act on this. So far, they have failed to respond to the ruling or even bring forward a statement on the issue. This indifference is damning, and it is angering communities across the South West.
“That’s why I’ve tabled a motion in Parliament on this matter. It praises the organisers of the Dartmoor Ten Tors challenge, extols the virtues of the Countryside Code, and calls for the Government to bring forward new legislation to safeguard our right to respectfully enjoy places like Dartmoor.
“I hope West Country MPs from all parties can come together to back my motion and send a clear message that people’s right to enjoy nature and access National Parks like Dartmoor must be protected.”