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Exeter local elections candidate is also standing in Winchester

University of Exeter student Harry Johnson-Hill hopes to represent voters both in Duryard & St James and at home in Alresford & Itchen Valley, 100 miles away.

Martin Redfern

University of Exeter student Harry Johnson-Hill is standing at next week’s local elections in both Exeter City Council’s Duryard & St James electoral ward and Winchester City Council’s Alresford & Itchen Valley electoral ward, 100 miles away.

His term-time address in Exeter and home address in Hampshire means he can legally stand for election to both councils, although his Twitter profile suggests he may be more interested in representing residents on Winchester City Council than those in Duryard & St James.

Harry Johnson-Hill Twitter profile

A Winchester campaign leaflet sent to us a by a reader describes Mr Johnson-Hill as “a local resident and businessman” who is “dedicated to Alresford and the Itchen Valley”.

He says: “I love living and working in Alresford and the Itchen Valley” but does not mention what he makes of his simultaneous studies in Exeter.

The Exeter Conservatives website says “Harry has long been invested in the local community” but a party campaign leaflet is more circumspect, saying that Mr Johnson-Hill is “working together” with the party to “deliver our plan for Duryard”.

It’s not clear whether he or the party are responsible for overlooking St James in their campaign.

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