THE cost of living is the priority the government should have right now – that and supporting small businesses plus cleaning up our rivers and environment – so it gives me no pleasure to see how Prime Minister Starmer has failed to deliver in the way people wanted.

Our country needs stability and common-sense government, not continuing soap operas of leadership crises, of the kind we used to laugh at in Italy.

Of course, it was the success elsewhere in the country of other opposition parties which has caused convulsions in Government ranks. But, here in Taunton, I had the great pleasure of welcoming David Northey as the newest councillor to the Taunton and Wellington Lib Dem team following his recent by-election victory.

It’s a privilege to see someone with such a strong record of volunteering, and who grew up here, put themselves forward in this way.

In all this turmoil nationally, I’m not letting Ministers forget about the day job. Shortly after the State Opening, I was on my feet challenging new regulations which mean Somerset Council is no longer able to allow paying passengers on certain school transport. I was promised a meeting and am hoping the Ministers involved deliver on that.

When the King sent his personal attendant, ‘the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod’, to bang on our doors and summon us, I managed to follow His Majesty’s summons nimbly enough to get into the House of Lords to hear him set out his Government’s programme.

As expected, confirmation was included of changes for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities so I’m looking forward to meeting with parents and children locally on May 30th to listen more to their views.

It’s vital that existing rights and support are not lost from families who rely on them.

Three proposed housing bills were also included so, as Housing Spokesperson, I will be busy.

Frankly, if the Government relent from their developer-led approach and instead prioritise bringing empty buildings back into use and creating homes local families can genuinely afford, I’ll be happy – but I’m not holding my breath!

As the current Government attempts to bring in what the Town and Country Planning Association has called “an unprecedentedly permissive planning regime,” local voices will be squeezed out.

The stage is set for battles where we should be striving for development which, rather than destroying, instead restores and enhances our communities and natural heritage.

In pride of place in that heritage, we should cherish our sublime river – the Tone. In its journey from Beverton Pond, via Clatworthy Reservoir, it supplies our homes and slakes our thirst. It also feeds the ecosystem which sustains life itself, and ultimately waters our fields and crops.

Yet this precious local asset is not getting the clean-up it needs or deserves – the fact I can’t encourage folk to join me in my weekly dip is a scandal.

The pace of change is unacceptable and a new Water Bill in Parliament will give us the opportunity to say water should be put back into the public’s hands.