Tweeting Tory to fight Bay election

THE 34-year-old Tory leader of the opposition on Coventry City Council has been chosen to fight the seat of Torbay in historic 'golden opportunity' election in May, 2015.

Devon-born Kevin Foster is a candidate for the age of social media, and has already taken on sitting Lib Dem MP Adrian Sanders on Twitter.

He will be fighting in an election which will see votes not only for MP but Torbay mayor and Torbay Council.

The former Torbay Young Conservative has already crossed 'tweets' with Adrian Sanders and hit the headlines in 2011 after being disciplined for sending 103 tweets during a single meeting at a time at which the city council had banned mobile phones.

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After his selection, Tory Party chairman Grant Shapps tweeted his congratulations.

He was one of four short-listed candidates and beat former Torbay deputy mayor and Torbay Council children's and families champion Chris Lewis in Torbay's first open hustings with non-members able to vote.

Some 130 members of the public and association members gathered at the Palace Hotel in Torquay for the selection.

He said afterwards: "For me, this isn't the end but the start of a very long journey. We need to take our fight to our opponents and set out a clear vision of what we will do if successful in not only in winning the parliamentary seat but also in assuring we retain our position on the council and the elected mayor.

"There is a huge prize on offer in May 2015.

"We have a golden opportunity to have a clean sweep in South Devon and make sure Torbay is again known as Tory Bay.

"But we will only do that if we work as a team, get a message out that people respond to and ensure that once more we are seen the party of hope and aspiration.

"It seems a long journey from the days when I was paddling with bucket and spade on Paignton beach and going to the zoo to standing here as parliamentary candidate.

"I have many happy memories of time spent in Paignton as a child and of working in the area to help fund my university studies. "

Kevin, currently works full-time as a councillor and has worked in the past as a criminal defence paralegal. Over the last two years he has been splitting his time between Devon and the Midlands as a close relative is unwell, but said he will now be looking to relocate to the Bay and will stand down in Coventry in May.

Michael Jeavons, chairman of Torbay Conservative Association, said: "I have every confidence that Kevin will stand up for all Torbay residents and will beat the Lib Dems at the next election."