At a glanceRichard Foord is a Liberal Democrat MP for Honiton and Sidmouth, and has represented the seat for 4 years, 1 month. They have cast 329 votes in Commons divisions (57% attendance), tabled 156 written questions and registered 1 financial interest.
Attendance is votes cast as a share of the 575 Commons divisions since the 2024 election; Richard Foord did not vote in 246. A rebellion is a vote against the way most of their own party voted; free votes, where no party line applies, are left out.
Party-loyalty figures are our own analysis of the official voting records (recorded votes only; they do not describe the formal whip). How we work this out.
Biography
Current roles
- Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill Committee since 21 May 2025
- Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament Committee since 11 Dec 2024
- Foreign Affairs Committee Committee since 28 Oct 2024
- Honiton and Sidmouth Representation · Elected 1 time since 4 Jul 2024
- Liberal Democrat Party since 23 Jun 2022
Voting record
Voting alignment
Votes most like
-
Helen Morgan
Liberal Democrat
100.0% · 318 of 318 shared votes
-
Adam Dance
Liberal Democrat
100.0% · 306 of 306 shared votes
-
Victoria Collins
Liberal Democrat
100.0% · 291 of 291 shared votes
-
Manuela Perteghella
Liberal Democrat
100.0% · 284 of 284 shared votes
-
Wendy Chamberlain
Liberal Democrat
100.0% · 244 of 244 shared votes
Votes least like
-
Dame Siobhain McDonagh
Labour
10.8% · 21 of 194 shared votes
-
Feryal Clark
Labour
11.3% · 19 of 168 shared votes
-
Mary Creagh
Labour
11.6% · 26 of 224 shared votes
-
Fabian Hamilton
Labour
11.6% · 20 of 172 shared votes
-
Kirith Entwistle
Labour
11.8% · 30 of 254 shared votes
Alignment figures are our own analysis of the official voting records (recorded votes only; they do not describe the formal whip). How we work this out.
Register of financial interests
From the official Register; shown as registered.
Miscellaneous1
- A member of the Advisory Council for the Council on Geostrategy, an independent non-profit organisation that generates new geostrategic thinking for a more competitive age. This is an unpaid role. (registered 9 Jun 2023)
Written questions
Saudi Arabia: Capital Punishment and Human Rights
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will (a) publicly condemn the (i) human rights situation and (ii) use of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia and (b) make representations to her Saudi counterpart on (A)
Answer · 27 Apr 2026
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 11 December 2025 in response to Question 97116. The UK continues to oppose the use of capital punishment in all circumstances.
Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Payment: Fraud
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of fraud in relation to (a) Pension Credit and (b) the Winter Fuel Allowance.
Answer · 12 Mar 2026
The Department publishes yearly estimates of fraud and error in the benefit system. The latest estimates for Pension Credit are available in section 9: Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2024 to 2025 estimates - GOV.UK.Estimates of Wint...
Diego Garcia: Military Bases
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's policy of considering the legal basis and policy rationale when approving foreign nations’ use of UK military bases for operational purposes also applies to the use of the military base a
Answer · 5 Feb 2026
Yes, the United States' (US) operational use of Diego Garcia is governed by an Exchange of Notes between the UK and the US.I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided on 19 December to Question 99134, where I confirmed that this Government will conti...
Floods: Finance
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure levels of flood recovery funding reflects the cumulative impact of successive named storms on the same communities.
Answer · 9 Feb 2026
In exceptional circumstances, government support may be provided for incidents of severe flooding via the Flood Recovery Framework (Framework). In thinking about activating recovery support the government considers many factors – such as the severity, dur...
Debts: Developing Countries
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she is taking steps to ensure that private lenders who arranged to provide money to countries under UK legislation are (a) prevented from suing those countries when they are in debt distress and (b) encourag
Answer · 28 Jan 2026
The UK, alongside the G20 and Paris Club, expects private creditors to participate in international debt restructurings on comparable terms.At this stage, the government is not pursuing a legislative approach that would force private sector participation ...
River Thames: Balconies
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, following the conclusion of the public inquiry into the Port of London Authority Harbour Revision Order, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the Port of London Authority is operating in a fair an
Answer · 29 Jan 2026
Following the conclusion of the inquiry, the Port of London Authority (PLA) has told the Department how it intends to resolve residents’ concerns. Although the Department has no relevant powers that can be used to assist in this situation, it is currently...
Trees: Conservation
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees sections of her Department's Environmental Improvement Plan, published on 1 December 2025, what discussions she has
Answer · 23 Dec 2025
Defra has engaged with MHCLG on the forthcoming review of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This government is committed to the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 which includes an action to maintain current protections in the NPPF for ancie...
National Parks
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to amend the Protected Landscapes Duty.
Answer · 4 Dec 2025
Whilst the Government does not intend to repeal the duty, we acknowledge that decision makers may need support in applying the duty appropriately. The department has already published guidance on the Protected Landscapes duty to ensure public bodies opera...
Early day motions
| 15 Oct 2024 | Ceasefire in Lebanon | 3 sig. |
| 10 Jan 2024 | Occupied Palestinian Territories and arms exports to Israel | 12 sig. |
| 16 Jan 2023 | Dartmoor National Park | 16 sig. |
| 27 Jun 2022 | Fuel Duty | 21 sig. |
Speeches in the chamber
14 Jul 2026 Coastal Communities: Isolation and Hidden Deprivation
It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Sir Alec. I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight West (Richard Quigley) for securing this debate on our coastal communities, which are so often forgotten. Those of us who represe…
9 Jul 2026 Dartmoor Ponies
Natural England proposed that overall livestock grazing limits should be reduced to reduce overgrazing, and it was not specific to ponies—it was about overgrazing by sheep and cattle. Ponies can help to graze invasive grasses and promote b…
8 Jul 2026 Greenhouse Gas Removals Sector
In recognising the challenge of planting enough trees on the land, I wonder whether my hon. Friend has thought more about capturing carbon in the ocean. He and I share the Lyme Bay marine protected area in our constituencies. The Vision G…
8 Jul 2026 Rearmament and Warfighting Readiness
The shadow Minister is exactly right. Of course, those people’s parents fought in the first world war. They were a generation who really did not want to meet war, but war came to them none the less. Clausewitz, the philosopher of war, t…
8 Jul 2026 Rearmament and Warfighting Readiness
Forgive me, but I understood that Grangemouth was a crude oil refinery. We need only look to Eurasia—we need only look at what has been happening in Ukraine and Russia—to see that war comes to those who do not really want it to come to …
8 Jul 2026 Rearmament and Warfighting Readiness
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Mike Martin) for making this debate happen. I have been to see his bookshelves and, trust me, the books on strategy and military affairs in his library are well thumbed. He kn…
7 Jul 2026 Early Release of Prisoners
A constituent of mine is an official, a civil servant who works in support of the IICSA. Having had emotional interviews with so many victims of the crimes that we are discussing today, he cannot fathom why Governments have not yet fully i…
6 Jul 2026 Russia: Level of Threat to UK
Much of the commentary on the defence investment plan is on the threat to the UK mainland, our interests and our assets. First, does the Secretary of State think that it is more useful to think about the Russian threat to NATO in general t…
2 Jul 2026 Historical Forced Adoption
It is barbaric that 185,000 babies were taken from young mothers across a quarter of a century until just 50 years ago, and the Prime Minister is right to say how wrong that was. In apologising on behalf of the state, he acknowledged that,…
1 Jul 2026 Flood Insurance: Reform of Flood Re
A Government consultation on changes to the planning system closed on 10 March. It included consulting on weakening flood protection in planning guidance, which could lead to greater house building on land prone to flooding. To avoid the n…
1 Jul 2026 Israel: E1 Zone Expansion
In June last year, the UK sanctioned Israeli far-right Minister Bezalel Smotrich for inciting violence against Palestinian communities. In recent weeks, Smotrich has issued an order to displace the Palestinian Bedouin community. The UK pos…
1 Jul 2026 Coastguard Volunteers: Remuneration and HMRC Guidance
For coastguard rescue officers, remuneration provides recognition of the sacrifices that they and their families make: the nights away from home, the cancelled plans, the annual leave taken for training and the loss of income as a result o…
24 Jun 2026 Climate Change
The real choice before us is whether we prepare our economy for the future or watch other countries seize the opportunities that we allow to pass us by. The UK has every reason to be proud of its record on international climate leadership …
24 Jun 2026 Farming Road Map and Profitability Review
The Great South West pan-regional partnership produced an agrifood growth plan which I commend to the Secretary of State. It was launched by Baroness Batters back in February. The south-west region accounts for one third of England’s dairy…
24 Jun 2026 Engagements
Q14. Tony Blair suggested that at the beginning of his premiership he was at his most popular and least capable, and talked about ending his time in office at his least popular and most capable. For the sake of people in the south-west …
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
So far, the debate has been about how much funding should be found for defence. We should also think about the resignation speech by the former Minister for the Armed Forces, the hon. Member for Birmingham Selly Oak (Al Carns), who said la…
22 Jun 2026 G7 Summit
A week ago, the Prime Minister said that the UK would support the deal between the United States and Iran by standing up a “defensive, independent, multilateral mission”. At the planning stage, that was designed to restore freedom of navig…
18 Jun 2026 River Otter: Sewage Pollution
I am grateful for the opportunity to raise the issue of sewage pollution in the River Otter, a river that flows through many of the Devon communities that I represent. I should say at the outset that, this morning, I declined an offer o…
17 Jun 2026 National Security (State Threats) Bill
Earlier today, I and other members of the Foreign Affairs Committee met the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross’s regional delegation to the UK. The ICRC makes the point that while it is not a non-governmental organisation…
17 Jun 2026 High Street Shops: Illicit Activity
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for securing this debate. On 17 July 2025, trading standards closed an illicit vape shop on Honiton High Street and seized a large amount of illicit tobacco. Does he think that this change in the law, wh…
Source: contributions on parliament.uk.
Full parliamentary career
Opposition posts
- Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Defence) · Opposition Department 11 Jul 2022 – 18 Sep 2024
Committee memberships
- Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation Bill 1 May 2024 – 8 May 2024
- Electricity and Gas Transmission (Compensation) Bill 18 Jan 2023 – 23 Jan 2023
Previous seats
- Tiverton and Honiton · Elected 1 time 23 Jun 2022 – 30 May 2024
Elections contested
- North Somerset 8 Jun 2017
Expenses
Contact & offices
02072 198 349
Parliamentary office
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Constituency office
East Devon Business Centre, Heathpark Way, Honiton, EX14 1SF
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Richard Foord, answered from official Parliament data.
Who is Richard Foord?
Richard Foord is a Member of Parliament representing Honiton and Sidmouth in the House of Commons. See Richard Foord's official Parliament profile.
Which party does Richard Foord represent?
Richard Foord sits as Liberal Democrat. See Richard Foord's official Parliament profile.
Which constituency does Richard Foord represent?
Richard Foord is the Member of Parliament for Honiton and Sidmouth. See Richard Foord's official Parliament profile.
How long has Richard Foord been an MP?
Richard Foord has served in the House of Commons for 4 years, 1 month. See Richard Foord's official Parliament profile.
What registered interests are listed for Richard Foord?
Richard Foord has 1 entry in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. See Richard Foord's official Parliament profile.
Source: this MP's official Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.