I have written today to my MP, @simonjamesjupp, regarding the unfolding story of the bogus web links which dishonestly used the name of Lib Dem MP @RichardFoordLD to direct voters to Mr Jupp’s campaign website.
To Simon Jupp, MP
House of Commons
London SW1A OAA
Monday, 8th April, 2024
Dear Mr Jupp,
In common with a great many people across the country, I have been following with interest the developing story regarding three web domains which were found to be appropriating the name of Tiverton & Honiton MP Richard Foord, your rival in the forthcoming general election, to mislead web users and direct them instead to your own campaign website.
Even before this story broke on Friday, your keen interest in Mr Foord’s constituency was well documented. It is a matter of public record that Mr Foord’s constituents have been targeted with ‘newsletter’ style campaign leaflets which misleadingly describe you as ‘local MP Simon Jupp’. Since the beginning of this year (and, I might add, notwithstanding your reproachful words in your last letter to me that prioritise urgent casework over letters drafted for attention on social media’), you have found time amid your urgent casework to use your own social media to publicise your visits and your support for local services and businesses in Cullompton, Colyton, Higher Wiscombe, Axmouth, Luppitt, Upottery, Honiton, Seaton, Beer, Branscombe, Broadhembury, Dalwood and Axminster. None of these towns and villages fall within your own constituency of East Devon. They are all in Mr Foord’s constituency. Needless to say, they will soon fall within the new constituency of Honiton & Sidmouth, which you and Mr Foord will both be contesting at the general election.
I understand that none of these shabby strategies – the misleading leaflets, the deceptive URLs, the time-consuming charm offensive in a neighbouring MP’s constituency while you chide your own constituents about ‘urgent casework’ – are in breach of electoral law, although goodness knows why not. But illegal or no, they amount to a pretty bad look for an MP who once wrote those uplifting words: ‘I am not afraid to stand up for what is right.’ In the case of the leaflets and the web domains, I’m sure you will agree that they’re more than just a bad look: they are underhand, deceitful, and quite staggeringly stupid.
In a brief statement yesterday to the BBC, you said that you were ‘not responsible for the web domains in Mr Foord’s name.’ That may certainly be considered a relief, but it falls far short of being an explanation. In fact, it raises more questions than it answers. Mr Jupp, if you are not responsible for the web domains, then who is? Who set up the misleading links? Who has now deleted them?
If these tactics were adopted on your behalf by members of your campaign team, but without your knowledge or approval, then you owe it to yourself and to your constituents to give a full and immediate explanation of exactly what has occurred, and who is responsible, and what disciplinary measures have been taken.
If, on the other hand, the actions were taken with your knowledge, then you know as well as I do that you owe considerably more than an explanation: not only to your own constituents, but also to Mr Foord’s constituents, and to the country.
We all look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Nicholas Pegg
East Devon Watch 