I got into politics because I felt that career politicians and spin are damaging our democracy.
I have worked on the frontline of conflict zones where tribal politics destroyed lives and I don't want to see that happen in Exeter.
Last week both the County and City Councils announced consultations as to where money should and should not be spent next year.
Labour's press releases accompanying these announcements show I was right to worry and just how far away we are from a constructive politics where spin has no place in Exeter.
Whoever you blame for the financial crisis, the Conservative-led government inherited a country on it's knees. As our recovery gathers pace, only constructive politics will see our recovery continue and our books balanced.
The facts are that both Councils announced a review of how they were going to balance next year's their spending this week.
But the facts stop there. The old Labour spin machine went into overdrive.
Labour press releases announced the City Council's review as a "major public consultation" and, in a spin savvy way, teamed up with the local paper to get a good press.
Even Alastair Campbell and Malcolm Tucker would have been impressed.
As Devon County Council announced the very same consultation process, the Labour party spin machine savaged it. Describing the very same consultation process as a "bolt out of the blue" and claiming "we had no warning".
That's odd.
This spending review was launched at the same time for both levels of local government.
If it was such a surprise to the Labour party, why had they announced the very same review for their own City Council on the very same day?
If Labour's Leader of the City Council was so "surprised" that the County Council was conducting the very same review of its spending as he was, what does that say about his leadership?
Trust in our elected officials is at an all time low. With ex-journalists leading Exeter's labour party this is no surprise.
Only real people in Parliament with real life experience can change that.
My Contract With Exeter sets out how I will conduct my campaign: putting the city first above tribal politics, using positive politics and being direct and honest about the challenges we face.
The Labour's party's leader forgot to even talk about the debt and the deficit in his conference speech.
I challenge Exeter Labour to drop the spin. Tell us where you are going to find the money to increase spending and reverse the cuts that you have so viciously and publicly criticised?
Unemployment is down by 49% in Exeter since the Conservative-led government came into power. Exeter is leading the South West's recovery and the UK is creating more new jobs than the rest of Europe put together.
But difficult spending decisions still need to be made.
Do Exeter's Labour party have the courage to talk about the debt and the deficit? If they are so against these spending reviews, why are they carrying out their own? We deserve honest answers.
Otherwise, it's just tribal spin. And the people of Exeter deserve better.
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In a right of reply to this letter, Ben Bradshaw MP said: "What Exeter residents care about is getting decent services for the council tax we pay.
"Exeter councillors are doing their job expressing alarm when, following this year's weeds fiasco, Devon County Council published a consultation, which included an option of doing no weed control at all next year.
"They were quite right to say that would be unacceptable. I agree with them."
