From Janet Kipling, Exeter 383654, April 25, 2007

CHRISTINE Channon announced today she is stepping down as Leader of the Conservative Group and as Shadow Leader at Devon County Council.

She will be continuing her duties as County Councillor for the Budleigh Division and made it clear she intends to stand for re-election at the County Council elections in May 2009.

Cllr Channon holds the distinction of being the first woman to lead Devon County Council in its 118-year history. She was Leader twice during the all-party administration between 2001 and 2005 and has been Shadow Leader of the Council since May 2005.

She commented: "I am looking forward to continuing to serve the people of my constituency, but there are have been many changes in the political and local government landscape since I became the County Conservative Group Leader. After nine years I believe that it is important that a new Leader takes the group into the next County election and by stepping down now my successor will have two years to prepare and make their mark."

A clinical biochemist by profession and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Science, she has had practically a life-long involvement in politics. Her parents and grandparents were active in local government politics and one of her earliest memories is working with her mother and grandmother writing out election envelopes at the age of eight.

Cllr Channon commented: "There was a strong sense of duty and community responsibility in my family, a real belief that we all have a responsibility to look after each other, our neighbours, the elderly, or employees. My father taught me that it was important to sweep the snow from the path of elderly people or offer to shop for them as part of my natural community engagement. It was a good training ground for a councillor!

"I believe that whatever job you may be given as a councillor the most important one is to look after the people in your community across all spectrums of age."

With such a pedigree it is not surprising that she is a passionate advocate for greater public participation in civic life. She particularly believes that the involvement of young people in local democracy is important for its future well-being and would also like to encourage employers to do a bit more to help employees who are interested in standing for elected office.

Cllr Channon said: "I am delighted that in the forthcoming elections, since the age level for candidates has been dropped to 18 years old, many more young people are seeking to become councillors.

"I hope that soon this will become the case in Devon and there will be equal numbers of both male and female candidates willing to offer their services. There are many issues which affect young people and we need this input to come from them, rather than top down from councillors of my age group. We have some admirable young people in our county and we desperately need to put some respect and integrity back into politics.

"I waited until I worked free-lance in order to become a councillor and I was 52 years-old. It would be helpful if more employers realised that there benefits in having employees who are engaged in the community and offer them greater flexibility in the workplace in order to fulfil both duties."

Commenting on the current debate over Exeter City Council's proposal to create a new unitary council for Exeter, Cllr Channon expressed deep concern about the impact a small unitary would have on the quality of services in Exeter and the rest of Devon.

"There is national concern about the rising costs of social care," she said, "plus a shortage of provision, so can Exeter City Council seriously believe that they can support all the children, young people and adults who need care and make 3% efficiency savings? The figures just do not stack up. Devon, like may other areas of the South West has an ageing population, we also have an increasing number of children who have learning disabilities. Exeter has areas of deprivation and already Devon County Council subsidises not only social care in the city but special education needs.

"The further break-up of Devon will inevitably damage the economies of scale which enables Devon County Council to provide very good professional and specialised support particularly in education and child care right across the county."

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