Two of Devon’s MPs will go head-to-head for the same seat at the next general election.

Due to a shake-up of constituencies, Tiverton & Honiton MP Richard Foord has announced he’ll be standing for the new Honiton & Sidmouth seat when we next go to the polls.

It means the Liberal Democrat will be taking on his Conservative neighbour Simon Jupp, the current East Devon MP, who was selected to stand for Honiton & Sidmouth by party members in February.

The Boundary Commission recently published its final recommendations for a shake-up of England’s map for general elections, which aims to give each MP roughly the same number of voters.

The changes will give Devon 13 MPs – up one on the existing 12 – although one will be split across Devon and Somerset in a new ‘Tiverton and Minehead’ constituency, which replaces part of the current Tiverton & Honiton seat.

East Devon’s current constituency is also being scrapped. There will instead be new ‘Honiton & Sidmouth’ and ‘Exmouth & East Exeter’ seats.

Mr Foord was first elected to parliament last summer, overturning a Tory majority of 23,000 in a by-election weeks before Boris Johnson was ousted from office, and after a scandal in which the former Conservative MP Neil Parish resigned.

Midweek Herald: Mr Jupp and Mr Foord have been MPs since 2019 and 2022 respectively.Mr Jupp and Mr Foord have been MPs since 2019 and 2022 respectively. (Image: LDRS)

Mr Jupp was part of the 2019 intake of new Conservative MPs who won a large majority at Westminster.

Announcing his candidacy, Mr Foord said: “I believe that everyone deserves a strong local champion, acting as their voice in parliament. This is what I like to think I have been over the past year and want to continue being – because there is so much that needs fixing.

“In spite of the brilliant people who work in the NHS locally, too many people are stuck on a long waiting list, can’t access dental treatment, or face hours of waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

“We’ve also seen our community hospitals hollowed out, losing beds that could be helping get people out of the RD&E.

“I have been listening to what experts and local people say will help address this. That’s why I’ve been calling for a Community Hospital Fund, have pushed for NHS dental contract reform, and lobbied for more support to cut waiting times in rural areas like ours.”

He added: “I will continue to work every day for everyone in Tiverton & Honiton, while also being a voice for people in parts of East Devon who also feel they’re being let down and taken for granted by this out of touch Conservative government.”

In February, Mr Jupp said he was “delighted” to be selected for the new constituency, explaining: “As a resident of Sidmouth, home is where the heart is and I’m standing where I’m incredibly proud to live.

“Since I was elected in 2019, I have successfully secured a new school to replace Tipton St John Primary, £15.7 million from the levelling-up fund, a new police station for Exmouth, and multi-million-pound support for Exeter Airport during the pandemic.

“I have a proven track record and will continue to work hard for everyone I represent in East Devon.”