Gideon's MP Column

An estimated 49,000 visitors to this year’s Somerset Armed Forces Day held in Vivary Park made it the biggest ever and a huge success thanks to Ed Cullen, Jason Hughes and all the veterans and volunteers who made it happen.

Having worked as an Adult Instructor in the Army Cadet Force, I was delighted to see them win the inter-service drill competition, thanks to all the effort and practice they put in.

At a conference in London last week – attended by former Russian PM Mikhail Kasyanov, recent Defence Minister Al Carns – I emphasised the need for the UK and Europe’s pillar of NATO to be much more strongly built up.

Trump is an unreliable ally, and the US is, in any event, increasingly distracted by other regions. The panel each brought their own perspective, but all broadly agreed.

Some suggest welfare spending could easily be reduced to fund defence. That idea might grab a headline but help for those hit by illness and disability matters, while supporting people back into work and independence, takes patience, time and a recognition that not everyone can work. Even where that’s successful, any savings would take years to be realised.

And Russia is already on the attack – its agents setting fire to the home of the Prime Minister and waging cyber and communications warfare cannot be ignored.

That’s why, on the care front, Liberal Democrats want to support carers and establish proper national funding for social care so more people can get back to work, and everyone gets a fairer share of the necessary budget.

When we were in government in Scotland, we brought in an entitlement to a number of hours of free care for everyone.

But the issue is so big it needs cross party-talks to resolve, we remain keen and able to engage. In the meantime, loading the adult social care budget on to Council Tax is neither working nor fair to local council taxpayers.

And, on the defence front, that’s why we have been proposing the idea of a £20-billion programme of defence bonds so everyone can invest in protecting our country.

I was able to advance that case, alongside veteran of Afghanistan and fellow Lib Dem MP Mike Martin, in his debate on defence readiness. 

The debate also enabled me to promote the great work being done by Terry Williams and West Monkton Parish Council on the Poppy of Honour Project: 1.1-million paper poppies for each member of the British and Commonwealth services who lost their lives in World War One, encased in an elegant memorial.

Tens of thousands of pounds have so far been raised, please find the page to donate by entering Poppy of Honour into any online search system.

Staying with our forces, I recently met with Wellington veterans as adamant as I am that the reorganisation and savings at NHS Somerset must not mean their vital outreach work to veterans is cut back. I have written to the NHS to make the case and will be following up with them.

I also took up another opportunity to stand alongside Commonwealth and other citizens from all walks of life at a peaceful gathering in Taunton. 

Many have come to our area, at the government’s invitation, to staff and support our NHS and as care workers. Others support our High Streets and small business community.

I will always the defend the right to peaceful protest and I was proud to see such a strong turnout from all parties – including many local Lib Dem members – and none, to stand up for people’s right to live, work and participate peacefully in our diverse community without fear.

Those are the values which make Taunton and Wellington such strong communities.

Outsiders coming to break that apart will not succeed; there is no place here for fear or division. They must never succeed – our community is stronger than that.