Foord kicks off re-election bid with pledge to fight for rural NHS

Liberal Democrat MP Richard Foord has today launched his bid to be the next MP for Honiton & Sidmouth with a promise to fight for rural NHS services and be a voice for residents across East Devon.

Speaking to a packed room of supporters in Ottery St Mary, Mr Foord laid into the Conservatives for ‘letting down’ rural communities and criticised his Conservative opponent for ‘sitting back and toeing the party line’, while highlighting his own commitment to always speak out on local issues.

At the rally Mr Foord was joined by Claire Wright, the former independent candidate for East Devon who received the support of more than 24,000 people at the last General Election, and former Devon County Councillor Martin Shaw – both of whom are supporting his election campaign.

Speaking of his priorities, Mr Foord spoke about his focus on supporting rural health and social care services, cracking down on water companies to end the sewage scandal, and supporting the environment through protecting the countryside and biodiversity.

The event was attended by more than fifty people, with many heading out afterwards to start knocking on doors and delivering leaflets for Richard’s campaign.

Speaking after the event, Richard Foord said:

“At the next election, the choice facing people in our corner of Devon is plain. They either get a hardworking local champion fighting their corner, or yet another Conservative MP who is content to defer to the party whips and toe the party line.

“Our country is in dire need of change. We have an NHS crumbling before our very eyes, our rivers and beaches are awash with sewage, and our rural market towns are at risk of becoming hollow shells of their former selves, as businesses and services wilt away.

“The Conservatives have shown time and again that they simply do not care about areas like ours. They continue to take us for granted, preferring to funnel funding into the Midlands and North in a desperate attempt to shore up their ‘red wall’ seats.

“My campaign is focused on showing people the real difference a hardworking local MP committed to fighting their corner can have. This is something we’ve seen since my election last summer – with new announcements secured in relation to Tiverton High School, and a pledge of the opening of a railway station at Cullompton.  

“I am humbled to have the support of people like Claire Wright and Martin Shaw, who have been real champions for our towns and villages. The message is plain: the only way to change things for the better is to vote Liberal Democrat and kick out this out-of-touch Conservative Government.”

Anyone wishing to find out more about Richard Foord or support his campaign can do so by visiting RichardFoord.org.uk