61 votes.
That's the current Tory majority in Central Devon.
This is a seat we can win. With the right candidate.
Labour have betrayed Devon and will never have such success at the ballot box again. Residents are sick of the Tories. We have one chance to stop Reform taking the country down a dark path. The Liberal Democrats are the only choice for Central Devon.
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I’m a Liberal Democrat because I believe politics should give people hope and the power to shape their own lives and communities. I believe in a fairer, freer and more open society, where everyone has the opportunity to succeed, where our rights and freedoms are protected, and where decisions are made with people, not imposed upon them.
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I believe in strong communities, protecting our environment, working closely with our friends and neighbours in Europe, and never being afraid to stand up for those whose voices are too often ignored. Above all, I believe we can build a kinder, fairer and more hopeful future, and that together, we have the power to make it happen.
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 We need an energetic parliamentary candidate who can build support across this vast constituency, take the fight to the opposition, and offer people a hopeful and credible alternative.
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I believe that person is me.
A fair deal for rural communities
Central Devon should not be treated as an afterthought or a political stepping stone. I will fight for properly funded councils, accessible health services, thriving market towns, support for farmers and reliable services in every village.
We deserve an MP who listens, speaks up, and never forgets who they are there to serve. As Central Devon's MP, these would be my priorities.
My vision for Central Devon
An NHS and care system people can depend on
IÂ will campaign for proper access to GPs, dentists and mental health support, better social care, and stronger services closer to home. People should not be disadvantaged simply because they live in a rural area.
Opportunity for every child
As a teacher, I understand the pressures facing pupils, parents and schools. I will defend SEND rights, campaign for fairer school funding, and work to ensure that young people can build a future in Devon. No-one should be enslaved by poverty or ignorance.
Roads, rails and buses
Our communities need dependable buses, reliable railways and safe, well-maintained roads. I will champion the case for long-term investment that reflects the realities of rural life, to both local and national government.
Central Devon needs a strong Lib Dem voice
How we'll win Central Devon
We will canvass every town and village, visit every parish council, and listen well beyond our existing Liberal Democrat base. We will run a constant, year-round leaflet campaign, backed by modern social media that combines strong evidence with hopeful, engaging messages.
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Before the 2025 local elections, the Lib Dems were 4th in Chulmleigh & Landkey Division. I started the campaign with little local party support and proved that I was worth backing through hard work.
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Over the 6 month campaign I built the team from the ground up, fully delivered 4 pieces of literature across the division, had thousands of doorstep conversations, and finally won the election with a 12% majority. We came from 4th place to win the seat in 2025 - I believe we can do the same in Central Devon.
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We will engage and empower more young people, rebuild pride in our communities, and offer a confident alternative to the anger and division of the far-right. Above all, we will show up, listen, and work relentlessly until people across Central Devon know that the Lib Dems are ready to win.
Gallery
Recent casework
Supporting farmers in the Bluetongue outbreak
Bluetongue is hitting Devon's sheep and cow farmers really hard right now. I've been out to visit farms and farmers, and spoken to the farming community at the North Devon show. They all feel let down by DEFRA. The expectation is that farmers should have vaccinated their animals, without any understanding of how difficult it is to make money in farming, and how much vaccinations eat into profit margins. Farmers are suffering with this alongside the drought and heat of this summer. I have been advocating for them and helping local farmers feel listened to.
Holding Southwest Water to account for sewage spills
A parent recently contacted me to let me know their kids had got sick after swimming in a local river during the heatwave. I reached out to my community and found several other children had become unwell after swimming in the same spot. I reached out to Southwest Water and the Environment Agency to push for testing and an explanation. They carried out testing but reported that everything was 'working as it should'. This wasn't good enough, so I visited the sewage treatment plant to learn more about how the system works during storms and how sewage leaks are allowed to happen. I have reported back to the community and will continue pushing Southwest Water for greater accountability. Long-term, I will keep pushing for water companies to be run for the public benefit, not private profit.
Supporting residents to navigate the planning system
Due to the government's increased planning targets, district councils are being pushed to approve more planning applications than ever before. This has led to concern from residents and I have supported them to understand the system and push for what is best for our communities.
Defending rural villages from digital exclusion
One of the villages I represent has very poor phone signal, putting elderly and vulnerable residents at risk. I have been working with the phone companies and the MP to get more masts in place, a community WiFi system, and to keep the public telephone box running, when BT had threatened to remove it.
Supporting vulnerable families to get their kids to school safely
Represented families in school transport appeal hearings and successfully overturned bureautcratic decisions by forcing the council to take into account personal details.
Championing food security and community resilience by setting up a new allotment site
Secured National Lottery Funding to set up a new allotment site in my town, supporting mental health and wellbeing, community connection, food sovereignty and nature-friendly spaces.
Climate & nature
The climate crisis is the biggest threat to society as we know it. I believe that successive governments haven't taken it seriously enough and bold action is needed now to avoid catastrophe.
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Added to that, the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. This is a travesty, and we need to do more to protect species and encourage biodiversity.
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I will fight for tough action on climate change, investment in clean, renewable energy, for cleaning up our rivers and protecting wildlife.
Learn more about me on my blog
Contact me
I'd love to hear from you. Here's how you can get in touch:
07815 414 899
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edtyldesley@gmail.com
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Facebook: Ed Tyldesley - County Councillor for Chulmleigh and Landkey
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