Tiverton and Honiton by-election: What the candidates have had to say

The by-election was called after MP Neil Parish was forced to resign from the seat after being revealed as the MP who was caught watching porn in the House of Commons.

The Tiverton and Honiton seat, which also covers Seaton and Axminster, has always been a safe Conservative seat and during the last election Mr Parish commanded at 24,000 vote majority.

Here's what the candidates had to say about the upcoming election:

Jordan Donoghue-Morgan (Heritage UK Party)

Jordan Donoghue-Morgan, Heritage UK candidate for Tiverton and Honiton (Image: Jordan Donoghue-Morgan)

I have worked in the hospitality trade since I left school.

The biggest issue for people I have spoken to is the cost-of-living crisis. It could easily have been avoided with our principles of financial responsibility. We would stop wasting billions of pounds on things we don’t need: HS2, lockdowns, foreign aid, hotels for illegal migrants, diversity officers to enforce political correctness and subsidies for ‘net-zero’ which make up at least 25% of our household energy bills.

On a local level, I will use my influence as an MP to address the concerns of residents, particularly:

• Building on the opportunities of Brexit which has given our nation independence from the EU. I will continue to defend our national sovereignty against other threats such as the proposed WHO pandemic treaty that is threatening our democratic rights and freedoms.
• Protecting children in schools against gender ideology, age-inappropriate lesson content and forcing girls to use unsafe unisex toilets.
• Defending businesses against any further lockdown and/or digital ID for entry.
• Ensuring that people and businesses can always continue to use cash as a means of payment.
• Working with local producers to establish a contingency supply chain for food and resources from, and to, the local community.

Andy Foan, Reform Party

Andy Foan, the Reform Party candidate for the Tiverton and Honiton by-election (Image: Andy Foan)

I am standing for Reform because, like many people, I have lost faith in politics and politicians.

Our society seems to be falling apart.

The political establishment seem powerless to stop a creeping authoritarianism that is infecting policy and decision-making. This is affecting more and more aspects of our lives.

There is a catastrophic failure of leadership.

All the major political parties are suffering from it. Authoritarianism is a sure sign of mediocrity and mediocrity is now endemic across the political spectrum.

The Conservatives are a broken force, appallingly badly led and incapable of taking any rational decisions. Lib Dems seem to think the protest vote is theirs for the taking.

They only have to bombard us with leaflets full of empty rhetoric. But the truth is that they are not the solution, they are part of the problem.

The ordinary people of this constituency want to send a message that enough is enough.

We know how to live our lives. We do not need to be controlled through rules, regulation, coercion and ‘nudges.’ We need policies that show trust and respect for the ordinary people of this country. Voting for Reform UK will send that message to Westminster

Richard Foord, Liberal Democrats

Richard Foord, the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Tiverton and Honiton by-election (Image: Liberal Democrats)

I am proud to live in this beautiful part of Devon. But we have been let down and taken for granted by the Conservatives.

While money has been poured in elsewhere, we have been forgotten about.

It’s clear that Conservative bosses in London simply do not understand the challenges facing our communities.

We need someone who will stand up to Boris Johnson and bang the drum for Devon - to really deliver for our area.

I served our country in the Army for over a decade, with tours in both Iraq and Kosovo. I have the leadership and experience needed to hit the ground running and effectively fight for our communities.

This election is a time to deliver real change for our area.

• want to cut taxes and put money back in your pocket, to help families with the cost of living.
• I will demand a rural ambulance fund, to recruit more staff and cut waiting times - which are the longest in the country.
• And I will fight to stop water companies polluting the Axe and our beaches with raw sewage.

The choice is clear; more broken promises from the Conservatives, or a strong local champion with the Liberal Democrats.

Helen Hurford, Conservatives

Helen Hurford, Conservatives candidate for the Tiverton and Honiton by-election (Image: Helen Hurford)

I am a strong local voice committed to working with the Government from day one to deliver for our home.

Having lived and worked in Tiverton and Honiton all my life, I want to give back to a community that has given me everything.

And to make sure I deliver, I have a six-point plan.

I will help families with the cost of living – the Government has set out a £37bn package of support and I will make sure it is reaching households and businesses here.

I will ensure the Government’s boost to per-pupil funding makes a real difference to families here.

I will push for even more NHS staff in our communities.

I will strengthen the Government’s commitment to our transport network.

I will deliver for rural communities –working with the Environment Secretary to ensure our wide-ranging farming needs are listened to.

I want every child to grow up in a safe street.

I know people are proud to call Tiverton and Honiton their home, but I know we need to do more – so we need an MP who will get to work and deliver from day one. And I am the only candidate who can work with the Government to get things done for everyone here.

Liz Pole, Labour Party

Frankie Rufolo, For Britain Party

Frankie Rufolo, the For Britain candidate in the Tiverton and Honiton by-election (Image: Frankie Rufolo)

I love Devon. I was born in this beautiful part of the country and have friends, family and fond memories in the Tiverton and Honiton constituency.

For Britain stands for justice and after a 20% increase in sexual offences in Devon, and a 50% increase in domestic abuse across Devon during lockdowns that politicians didn't adhere to, the front desk at Honiton Police Station must be reopened, supporting victims with more ways of coming forward. The recent arson attack in Beer shows that rising lawlessness affects all our communities. For Britain would abolish Police and Crime Commissioners to pay for more ordinary coppers.

Towns like Axminster need more shops and For Britain would invest in Devon, lowering businesses rates, providing two hours free parking in town centres per week, funding projects like the redevelopment of Seaton Seafront, keeping the public toilets open to save our high streets.

I cannot support the green agenda when it involves solar panels made using Uyghur forced labour in Communist China, a vile genocidal regime. I will never look the other way.

The strongest patriotic vote for genuine change is a For Britain vote. If elected, I’ll be honest, I’ll be outspoken, I’ll be Frank.

Ben Walker, UKIP

Ben Walker, UKIP candidate for the Tiverton and Honiton by-election (Image: Ben Walker)

Ben has a long history in local politics serving as a Town Councillor, Town Mayor, District Councillor and Vice Chairman for a District Authority. He is also a serving parish councillor.

Ben lives with his partner and young daughters. He owns and operates a Planning & Design Consultancy and is a Royal Navy veteran who has served in the Falklands and Middle East.

Ben’s mantra has always been People – Not Politics so, it’s no surprise to hear that if elected, he would ensure that people of the constituency are always represented and have somewhere to turn when in need.

Politics is more about perception than policy with the mainstream media forcing the agenda on matters which don’t always represent or reflect the thoughts of the public.

This area of Devon boasts a diverse mix of towns, villages and extensive countryside which has long felt the force of successive governments failure to address what matters to them.

Voters must remember that despite a broken electoral system, they still have the power to elect something different. Vote UK Independence Party and get real independence from the politics of London, a whipped MP and more of the same”.

The original party of BREXIT.

Gill Westcott, Green Party

Gill Westcott, the Green Party candidate for the Tiverton and Honiton by-election (Image: Gill Westcott)

I’ve lived in Devon for over 30 years, worked with many community groups and co-founded a Community Land Trust, providing affordable homes for local people increasingly priced out of the housing market.

Greens promote investment in a fully public NHS, schools and public transport, raising Universal Credit by £40, and extending free school meals to the 800,000 children living in poverty who don’t currently qualify.

We’d prioritise boosting cheap renewable energy and mass home insulation, cutting our fuel bills and climate emissions; we’re appalled at the huge tax reliefs for expensive oil and gas projects that threaten life on earth.

Greens support the rule of law. It’s shameful that Conservative MP’s confirmed a leader ready to break the law and change rules when they are inconvenient. The government has shackled the Electoral Commission, meant to see fair play in elections, curtailed the right to protest, and made it harder for many to vote. It’s starved local government of cash and blown billions on crony contracts, ignoring procurement rules.

In this election, many will find tactical voting the only way forward. Greens want a proportional system, where every vote counts and the number of MP’s for each party reflects their vot