Richard Foord MP

A statement from Ed Davey reading: "Two years ago, we watched in horror those appalling scenes of Hamas's evil terrorist attack on Israel. 1,200 innocent people brutally slain, including hundreds of young people at a music festival. Others raped, sexually assaulted and mutilated. 251 people taken hostage, ripped away from their families. "Those terror attacks also triggered a shocking rise in antisemitism here in the UK - a terrible scourge that took the lives of Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz at their synagogue last week. "We stand in solidarity with British Jews, the people of Israel and Jewish communities around the world against terrorism and against antisemitism in all its forms. "This cycle of violence has gone on far too long, caused far too much suffering, and claimed too many innocent lives. "With new peace talks under way, we desperately hope that they will finally see the hostages returned home to their families, a lasting bilateral ceasefire, Hamas out of power in Gaza for good - and set us on the path to a two-state solution that offers both Israelis and Palestinians the peace and security they deserve." ED DAVEY

Today marks two years since the heinous attacks by Hamas on Israeli people. We need the hostages released - and for a sustainable solution to this conflict that recognises the security needs of Israelis and Palestinians alike.

I am horrified by the images of a mosque in Peacehaven burning after a suspected arson attack.

Everyone should be able to worship free from fear and terror.

Islamophobia is totally unacceptable. Those who spread hatred and incite violence against Muslim communities must stop.

MP slams Jhoots Pharmacy over closures and unpaid wages Sidmouth MP Richard Foord has slammed crisis-hit chain Jhoots Pharmacies over the “unacceptable way” the company does business amid multiple…

I am concerned about some of the branches of Jhoots pharmacy. Rural Devon already has issues with over-stretched pharmacies; this may exacerbate worries about obtaining prescriptions www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/2551137...

A photo of the new Coleridge footbridge over the River Otter. The bridge itself has dark railings and solid paving

I walked back across the footbridge. It may have taken longer than we wanted, but it's great to have a solid, well-constructed bridge back in place. Great work, Ottery St Mary Town Council, DCC Councillor Jess Bailey, and all who helped make it happen.

A selfie taken by Richard Foord (Right) with another man who is looking to the camera and holding a piece of woodworking equipment. They are sat in a room by a large piece of wood to be made into a sign

Clark at Ottery Men's Shed showed me the design for the Tipton St John Community notice board, which looks great. There was a great atmosphere at the Shed this afternoon - and plenty of sawdust!

Farmers Weekly Awards 2025: Farming Champion of the Year - Farmers Weekly The MP Alistair Carmichael has been named the Farmers Weekly 2025 Farming Champion for his work on behalf of crofters, farmers and rural communities, both

I am very pleased to see @amcarmichaelmp.bsky.social recognised as @farmersweeklyuk.bsky.social Farming Champion of the Year. His advocacy for rural communities has a real impact for farming families across the country - not least here in Devon. www.fwi.co.uk/events/award...

On this painful morning, my thoughts are with the families of Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz – the two men tragically killed outside their synagogue yesterday – and with the whole Jewish community who have been the target of a vicious attack on their holiest day. Antisemitism, terrorism and hatred can be defeated. But only if we all stand united against them. This attack didn’t happen in a vacuum. Antisemitism is rife on Britain’s streets. British Jews have been living in fear, especially since Hamas’s horrific terror attacks of October 7th. That must end now. We all must come together to make sure our Jewish friends and neighbours feel safe walking on their streets and worshipping at their synagogues. Those who preach antisemitic hatred, those who incite violence against Jews – whether online, on marches or anywhere else – must be stopped. It is never acceptable. I know that, together, we can make sure that our British values of decency, tolerance and respect will prevail. Ed Davey

"On this painful morning, my thoughts are with the families of Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz and the whole Jewish community who have been the target of a vicious attack on their holiest day."

"Those who preach antisemitic hatred must be stopped. It is never acceptable."
@EdDavey.LibDems.org.uk

Horrified and appalled by the attack outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

My thoughts are with the victims, our brave emergency services and the entire Jewish community.

MP: "Shambolic" East Devon rail service needs urgent upgrades Last week, trains from Honiton were cancelled due to “slippery rails”. Leaves on the line, perhaps? Maybe – you know it is Autumn when you…

Rail chaos means that people from East Devon are being crammed into carriages and are repeatedly late for work, school or college. It cannot continue.

South Western Railway must tell passengers when a normal service will resume.

www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/2550453...

Research by Go.Compare found that nearly half (46%) of Devon's B and C roads are in "red" or "amber" condition. People here can rarely choose to hop on a train - particularly at the moment. www.gocompare.com/motoring/new... 2/2

Devon second worst county in England for road conditions A recent study by Go.Compare motorbike insurance revealed that 10 per cent of the county’s B and C roads are in "red" condition.

Tell us something we didn't know! Devon's class B & C roads have been ranked second-worst in the whole country. For the safety of road users, Whitehall needs to take better account of rural road networks when it doles out money to local authorities. www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/2549187... 1/2

A photo of Richard Foord and David Lewis (right and left, respectively). Richard is holding a copy of David’s book

I can recommend dipping into David Lewis' book Occupied: Russian Rule in South-Eastern Ukraine. I joined a panel with David on Friday for a book launch at the University of Exeter. His research illustrates what life is like for those whose freedom has been snuffed out in Ukraine.

A photo of three people standing in a library, with Richard Foord in the middle and all three smiling toward the camera

Libraries Unlimited are providing us with so much more than books. This morning, Kerry and Rachel - together with the charity Action East Devon - showed me around an exhibition of photos curated by young people in relation to mental health.

A photo of Richard Foord sat at a table in a hall opposite another man who he is speaking to. There are two chairs free - one on each side of the table. On the table are some papers and a laptop. To the right of the image are posters for various events happening at the hall.

The surgery that I held at Axminster Guildhall yesterday enabled me to talk with local people about a range of national issues, ranging from dentistry to recognition for carers. The examples that people bring are so very helpful at shining a light on policy shortcomings.

A black-background graphic with a photo of Menzies Campbell in the middle. Above the photo is his name, and below is written "1945 - 2025" and the Liberal Democrat logo in white.

Ahead of the Iraq War, Ming Campbell spoke for many of us. Including many of us in uniform who could not speak out. He was someone who I looked up to - and even though he is so sadly no longer with us, I will continue to be inspired by him.

But we saw what selling off the silver did for the Conservatives - it kept them afloat for another year or two, but meant the loss of assets for generations to come. 2/2

‘Scandalous betrayal’ over Devon hospital locals helped pay for Campaigners fighting for its future

Despite all our campaigning over the past two years and the thousands of petition signatures that we gathered, the views of the community appear to have been deliberately ignored 1/2

www.devonlive.com/news/devon-n...

OPINION: We should be wary of government overreach Now don’t get me wrong: I love Windsor Castle, and I enjoy a military band.

It was quite wrong to arrest people for simply projecting images of Trump and Epstein. Citizens have been allowed to protest peacefully in this country for over a hundred years, and we mustn’t lose that precious right.

www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/2548558...

As British politics shifts and smaller parties pick up additional support, it is time to change our voting system and introduce proportional representation.

The justice system backlog is delaying justice. With more than 300,000 cases waiting to be heard in the magistrates' court, we cannot afford for hundreds of people to be arrested for protesting peacefully.

Our @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social/ @euinuk.bsky.social fringe event at @libdems.org.uk party conference on 'Building resilient and inclusive societies' in under way.

With Malik Azmani, @cerianbond.bsky.social @richardfoordld.bsky.social, @wendychambld.bsky.social & Pedro Serrano

Big plaudits to Marion Hayman (centre). Following the tragic loss of her son, she has helped prevent other families experience such an awful loss by setting up the Jonathan Hayman Memorial Fund, and coordinating the community to raise funds for the screening of many other young people.

Plea for urgent rail fix as Devon commuters hit breaking point One short stretch of railway is causing problems

Dualling just a three-mile section of track around Cranbrook and Whimple would give the West of England line the capacity it needs to run twice-as-frequent services from Axminster, Honiton, Feniton and Whimple to Exeter.

Autumn sunshine over the sea at Beer reminds me that I live in the finest constituency in the country. I met with John, Maureen, Martin and Simon to talk about coastal erosion - and the effect that it might have on Common Lane in the future.

The Living Systems Institute at the University of Exeter produces brilliant research students. Words of comfort for them and for life sciences students, following the withdrawal of a £1bn investment from Merck...

Lord Mandelson should never have been appointed as UK Ambassador to the United States. There were so many talented diplomats who could have represented us in DC. Mandelson seems to have been intensely relaxed about Epstein and his conviction, which makes you wonder what else Mandelson overlooked.

19 Russian drones flew deep into Polish airspace this week. Would Russia feel deterred from going further if Poland was not host to its NATO allies' people and kit?

Qatar has played a leading role in conflict mediation; to carry out strikes on it is an outrage. The UK must now lead in sanctioning additional members of this seemingly unaccountable far-right Israeli government.

More than one in four UK businesses have fallen victim to a cyber-attack in the past year. Is the Department for Business and Trade drawing on expertise at the MOD to help keep our businesses safe and secure?

Supacat is a brilliant Dunkeswell-based business that produces the Jackal High Mobility Transporter. They deserve congratulations on a new order from the Czech Republic - hopefully we will receive similar good news about a new purchase from our own MOD soon.