A CAMPAIGN launch has been held in Dulverton for the woman hoping to become the first MP for the new constituency of Tiverton and Minehead.

The Parliamentary seat has been created by merging much of West Somerset and Exmoor with parts of Mid Devon and Taunton Deane.

West Somerset is currently represented by Conservative MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, who has been selected by the party to stand in the new constituency.

Mid Devon’s current MP, Liberal Democrat Richard Foord, was only elected 20 months ago after a public backlash against Conservative Neil Parish, who resigned when he admitted watching pornography on his mobile phone in the House of Commons.

But Mr Foord has opted to move to fight another, neighbouring new constituency formed by putting Honiton and Exmouth together.

Now, Liberal Democrat Mid Devon district Cllr Rachel Gilmour has been adopted to stand in the Tiverton and Minehead seat.

Supporters attended a rally held on the steps of Dulverton Town Hall where Ms Gilmour set out her stall and the core changes on which she would fight her campaign.

She listed them as tackling the cost-of-living crisis, putting healthcare at the heart of communities, and protecting local jobs and the environment.

Ms Gilmour said they were all areas in which she had first-hand experience through her career as a National Farmers’ Union director, an Environment Agency ‘strategist’, work with local GPs, and as a councillor.

She said: “We are offended by the state of our NHS and the Government’s decision to underfund it.

“We are offended that one-in-five of our secondary schools are in special measures or inadequate. 

“We are offended at the pollution of our seas and rivers.

“We are offended that there are not enough properly paid carers to look after our elderly and infirm. 

“We are offended that the effects of climate change we are already feeling are being ignored in the pursuit of profits.

“I will not rest until the Conservatives are held to account for their failures.

“Our communities are demanding better, and I aim to deliver it.”

Ms Gilmour said the response so far to her campaign had been ‘overwhelming’.

She said: “If there is time before the General Election, I aim to have knocked on the door of every single person in Tiverton and Minehead to introduce myself.”