Up Close: Violet Bonetta on becoming East Devon's youngest councillor

On May 4 the country went to the polls in the local elections. In Honiton, 18 town councillors and five East Devon District Councillors were elected.

Labour candidate Violet Bonetta, aged just 18, was elected to represent Honiton at East Devon District Council for St Michael's ward. Her victory means she is the youngest elected councillor at East Devon District Council and is the first openly transgender member of the council. 

Violet currently lives in Honiton with her parents. She studied for her GCSEs at Honiton Community College and is currently preparing for her A-level exams. She has volunteered for Foodsave CIC for three years where she runs the website and runs a distribution session on a Friday.

Honiton Nub News spoke to Violet about the election and how it feels to have achieved so much at such a young age.

How do you feel being the youngest ever elected member of East Devon District Council (EDDC)

I am just getting used to the idea that I've been elected but it is great. We really need a diverse range of people in politics, across a wide range of age groups to make sure every viewpoint is heard, and I hope that by being elected at the young age of 18 – in the first election I could vote in – can encourage more young people to get involved with politics, and that I can get a younger viewpoint heard at EDDC. 

What made you want to stand for election?  

Since lockdown I've only become more involved with the local community, starting my volunteering with Foodsave and also being a part of the school council at HCC to organise charity fundraising events.

Becoming a councillor felt like the next step to get myself involved in the community at another level, representing the residents of Honiton St Michael's. 

You are the first openly transgender member of EDDC. Why do you think this achievement is such an important milestone? 

I believe that we need a diverse range of people in politics from all areas of life, and having people from minority groups in politics allows viewpoints to be heard from multiple angles. 

As you may be aware, being trans can be difficult, especially with political 'culture wars' taking place, which are becoming more and more harmful to the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. 

I hope that through my position as a councillor I can educate people on what it actually means to be trans, and help to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people living in East Devon. I plan to continue on the work Jake did with his Trans visibility motion to ensure that people from all walks of life feel welcome in East Devon.

What are the issues you personally feel passionate about/invested in? 

One issue I'm very passionate about is social mobility. Especially in rural areas such as East Devon, many people can find it hard to obtain the grades or opportunities to progress their careers further. 

Many students from areas like Axminster have to travel around 40 minutes by train to go to Exeter College as there is no longer a sixth form in the town, further putting stress on students and progression opportunities alike. I really believe this is an issue that affects us all and our economy, and more of a spotlight needs to be put on it.  

What do you think are the main issues affecting East Devon?  

The cost of living crisis is hitting us all, and needs to be tackled at all levels of politics. This is having knock on effects everywhere, and we should be doing everything we can do as a council to alleviate this financial stress whilst also providing high quality services to our residents.  

Do you think Labour can win in Honiton at a general election?  

With national political opinion changing, the new constituency boundaries coming up in the next general election and a sudden change to our MP recently, it is looking more likely than ever that we could see a Labour victory right on our doorstep. I guess we'll have to wait and see! 

Are your parents surprised that both you and your brother Jake (who is a former member of East Devon District Council and is part of Honiton town council) have become involved in local politics at such a young age - or is it something they're also interested in?

Our parents have never been involved with politics, and it is just something me and Jake have both been interested in and involved with for many years now. I definitely think they are surprised but are very supportive of us both - how many people can say their children were councillors whilst still living with them?

What do you enjoy about living in Honiton?  

The first thing you notice when walking around Honiton is the unique range of independent shops bundled alongside our historical market – something you rarely find these days! The town is quiet but vibrant, holding many events throughout the year such as the highly anticipated and loved Gate to Plate. And, just a short distance away, we have the most beautiful beaches coupled with amazing woodland walks and cycle routes. What's not to love?