Within the last five days, local media have printed articles, by different authors, describing the campaign launch, aims and record of Richard Foord MP and Simon Jupp MP who will be going head to head in the new Honiton and Sidmouth constituency.

The article on Richard Foord’s launch contained a final paragraph quoting Simon Jupp describing his local connections and Honiton office. This appeared to give Simon Jupp “the last word” on Richard Foord’s launch.

The article on Simon Jupp, urging voters to look at his record, a couple of days earlier contained quotes from him and him alone.

Owl understands that this caused some to question the apparent bias between the two articles published within days of each other.

In any event, the article on Richard Foord’s campaign launch has since been revised since Owl reported it.

Owl understands that the journalists at the Herald have a good relationship with Richard Foord.

The original final paragraph read:

Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon, said: “I am proud to be standing where I live, something my Liberal Democrat opponent simply can’t say. My campaign was launched on May 3rd last year in Honiton and I have been knocking on doors across the new Honiton & Sidmouth constituency since March. I have opened a campaign office on Honiton’s high street, not far from the former Liberal Democrat office they closed days after winning the by-election. I’m fighting for every vote, because I care about where I live.”

This is now followed by:

Richard Foord lives in Uffculme in the centre of the Tiverton and Honiton constituency, where he has lived with his wife and three children since he left the Army in 2010.  He offered the following in response:

“My brilliant team and I hold surgeries in towns and villages across the constituency that I represent.  I am listening to and representing people in Devon – not party bosses in London. 

“I am delighted that the Conservative Government’s delegate to East Devon has opened a shopfront in Honiton.  As the MP for Exmouth, he will know that our hollowed-out high streets need all the tenants they can get. That said, I walk past the Conservative Party’s office regularly and have often wondered why there is no-one inside.

“For me, it’s not about where you can be seen, but who you can help.  When I go to Parliament, it is to represent the views of people back home.”

Anyone wishing to find out more about Richard Foord or support his campaign can do so by visiting https://www.tivandhonlibdems.org.uk/foord