IT’S now a year since I had the huge privilege to be returned as your MP.

Twelve months may have gone quickly but that 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 has finally had its funding confirmed. This came 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.

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 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.

Given recent political 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.

As part of that bolder Britain, I was delighted to support Somerset’s Armed Forces Day again this year, with its record 42,000 attendance. We must never forget the sacrifice so many make and have made in the past to keep our country safe and free.

Congratulations to the veterans and volunteers who make it happen and to our Cadets who once again put on a great show.

And Wellington getting its railway station back is the best possible anniversary present I could have wished for.

Across Taunton and Wellington and our villages, 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.