TODAY (Friday, July 4) marks the first anniversary of his Gideon Amos’ election as MP for Taunton and Wellington.

The Liberal Democrat took the seat from the Conservatives with a majority of just under 12,000.

He said: “Twelve months may have gone quickly but the privilege of working for you as your Member of Parliament grows all the greater every time that, with the support of my team, I’m able to give a fellow Taunton and Wellington resident the help they need – and I recently opened my 7,000th case.

“My number one priority in my election campaign was, and remains today, getting better care and NHS services for local people.

“Working alongside my 71 Lib Dem MP colleagues and leader Ed Davey, we’ve had a few key successes.

“We’ve won a place for Musgrove Park Hospital’s much-needed new maternity and children’s unit in the government’s funding programme.

“Also, the new Wellington Station – first proposed in Parliament by my LibDem predecessor Jeremy Browne back in 2014, but which had stalled under the last government – has finally had its funding confirmed.

“This was despite scores of rail projects around the country being cancelled after it was revealed no money had ever been put in the coffers to make them happen.

“I’d like to express my huge thanks to all the Wellington residents, and the town council, who supported my campaign, joined by MPs from other parties in the region.

“However, unfortunately, in so many ways, the new Labour government have disappointed.

“Despite us winning a review of the punitive practice of clawing back overpayments of allowances to carers, social care funding – so desperately needed to rescue our NHS and free people up to get back to work or just to enjoy life – won’t be reformed, they say, until 2028.

“And our new maternity unit isn’t scheduled to happen until 2033. That’s far too late for people who just want to see the change they voted for actually happen.

“Instead, Labour have let people down by reducing payments to the poorest pensioners and disabled people, and hit jobs around our area with higher National Insurance.

“It's time for a much bolder Britain, more positive about our role on the world stage, about restoring our trade with Europe and about giving young people more opportunity.

“If we put ordinary people and our many small businesses, the backbone of our economy, first, we can give folk the opportunities they want to see.

“My ‘Buy Local, Back Britain” campaign stickers are available on request!

“This week also marks the anniversary of the country finally getting rid of the chaos of a decade under the Conservative governments.

“Their Liz Truss budget played havoc with the markets, drove up mortgages and pushed already high inflation even higher, and their behaviour throughout the pandemic, including £36 billion of Covid fraud, is still being unpicked today.

“Given that recent history, and the state of world events right now, we all know it’s time to invest again in making Britain stronger, from bringing back proper community policing to a bigger Army once again.

“But let’s be thankful for the stability we have here in the UK – long may that continue.

“Here in Taunton and Wellington, I will continue fighting on your behalf to get you real opportunities for a better and more fulfilled life in a great environment in our wonderful part of Somerset".