Devon County Councillor Ed Tyldesley to stand for Liberal Democrats in Central Devon
Ed Tyldesley, a teacher and Devon County Councillor, has been selected to stand for the Liberal Democrats in Central Devon, a seat currently held by Conservative MP Sir Mel Stride with a majority of just 61 votes.
A Devon county councillor has been selected to stand for the Liberal Democrats in Central Devon, one of the most tightly fought constituencies in the country.
Ed Tyldesley, a teacher and Devon County Councillor, will attempt to overturn a Conservative majority of just 61 votes, currently held by Sir Mel Stride, who served as the Conservative Party's Shadow Chancellor until he was replaced in a shadow cabinet reshuffle at the end of August 2026.
Sir Mel, who has represented the seat since it was created in 2010, was re-elected in 2024 with a majority of 61 votes. Labour's Ollie Pearson finished a close second. The Liberal Democrats came third, with Reform UK close behind in fourth.
Mr Tyldesley has become known locally for his campaigning on sewage pollution and South West Water, an issue he has repeatedly raised in his role as a county councillor.
He has also raised concerns over the spread of bluetongue disease among livestock in the county and the temporary suspension of birthing services at North Devon District Hospital.
"When a huge company is polluting our rivers, I don't care how powerful it is," he said.
He said rural transport, access to GPs and dentists, and the affordability of housing for young people were among the issues he intended to focus on if elected.
"You cannot promise to fix everything as a politician," he said. "But you can promise to listen, to work hard, to tell people the truth and to fight as hard as you can on their behalf."
His selection was welcomed by Ian Roome, the Liberal Democrat MP for neighbouring North Devon, who said Mr Tyldesley was "compassionate, brave" and that he had seen first-hand how he worked as a county councillor.
The Liberal Democrats currently hold a majority of seats on Central Devon's constituent local councils, though local election performance does not always translate into general election results - the party's council strength was similarly high before the 2024 general election, when it still finished third in the parliamentary contest.
Central Devon covers a large, largely rural area including Okehampton, Crediton, Bovey Tracey and Chudleigh, and takes in part of Dartmoor.