Richard Foord is your Liberal Democrat candidate for Honiton & Sidmouth.

Full statement

Richard is fighting to get a fair deal for communities across Honiton & Sidmouth.

Richard Foord lives in Uffculme with his family. He grew up in the West Country before going on to serve in the Army for more than a decade, reaching the rank of Major. He completed tours in Iraq and the Balkans, serving as a UN peacekeeper in Kosovo.

Before being elected as an MP in 2022, Richard worked for the University of Exeter and the University of Oxford. He is a passionate local activist, and has raised thousands of pounds for charities - including running the London Marathon for the Royal British Legion.

He represented the people of Tiverton & Honiton as their Member of Parliament from June 2022, when he overturned a staggering Conservative majority of over 24,000 in a crucial by-election that sent shockwaves through Westminster, and is now standing for the new Honiton & Sidmouth constituency.

Richard wants to see a fair deal for rural and coastal Devon. His top priorities are: protecting community health and social care, including fixing NHS dentistry; urgent action to cut the cost of living; and to crack down on the water and sewage industry, which this Conservative Government has allowed to go rogue.

Richard writes: "I love Devon and am proud to call it my home. I have watched my children grow up here and am determined to make our area the best place for people to work, retire and live.

Our towns and villages are full of character. People who live here deserve a strong, independent-minded MP who will put local people first. I’m standing to make sure we get that strong representation that our communities deserve."

Richard is also the Liberal Democrats' Defence Spokesperson, calling for more action to support the Ukranian people in the wake of Putin's illegal invasion. He has also pushed to end to violence raging in the Middle East through an immediate ceasefire, to protect lives and allow space for a two-state solution.