Simon Jupp is the Conservative parliamentary candidate for the new Honiton & Sidmouth constituency, which includes Cullompton, Aylesbeare, Feniton, Ottery St Mary, Honiton, Dunkeswell, Beer, Branscombe, Seaton, Colyton, Musbury and Axminster.

Simon was born in Plymouth at Freedom Fields Hospital in 1985. As a teenager, he juggled his studies with working in a supermarket and volunteering at a local radio station at the weekends.

After leaving college, Simon decided not to go to university and instead pursued a career in broadcasting. He was offered a daily programme on Plymouth Sound and later helped to launch Radio Plymouth. He returned to the airwaves in Devon later in his career on Exeter and East Devon’s local radio station, Radio Exe.

Simon swapped presenting for journalism when he joined the BBC and rose through the ranks to become the manager of BBC Radio Solent in Dorset, leading a team and regularly presenting the flagship Breakfast programme. He later joined the Conservative Party as the Head of Broadcast, working closely with Number 10 before returning to journalism as News Editor at ITV Channel TV.

He was then appointed by the Mayor of the West of England as his Special Adviser, helping to secure the re-opening of a railway line, and working to deliver devolution to Bristol, Bath, and South Gloucestershire. He was later headhunted to be a Special Adviser for the former First Secretary of State and Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab MP.

Simon was selected by local party members to stand as the Conservative candidate for East Devon and was elected with over 50% of the vote in December 2019, the highest vote share in the constituency since 1997.

As the MP for East Devon, Simon served as a member of the Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee, Transport Select Committee, Chair of the Great South West All-Party Parliamentary Group and Chair of the Hospitality and Tourism All-Party Parliamentary Group in his term as East Devon's MP. He also served as Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department for Transport and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. 

Simon is driven by his love for Devon and helping others. He helped many people access financial support during the pandemic and successfully campaigned for funding to protect Exeter Airport, secured a new police station for Exmouth, a new train station for Cullompton and support for tourism & hospitality businesses and the agricultural industry.

He takes a particular interest in culture, devolution, media regulation, local government reform, transport, and agriculture in Parliament.

In his spare time, Simon enjoys walking with friends and family living in Devon, especially if a trip to the pub for a decent cider is involved. 

At the general election on July 4th, Simon is standing as the Conservative parliamentary candidate for the new Honiton & Sidmouth constituency.