RE-SELECTED: Gideon endorsed as candidate for next General Election
Gideon Amos, the current MP for Taunton and Wellington, is re-selected as the constituency’s Liberal Democrat candidate for the next General Election.
Gideon won the seat from the Conservatives in July 2024, with a majority of nearly 12,000 votes. He was endorsed to stand again at a special event staged by Taunton and Wellington Liberal Democrats on Saturday, attended by more than 50 party members.
Gideon said: “Representing Taunton and Wellington as a Member of Parliament continues to be the greatest privilege of my life, and I am grateful to the local party for putting their faith in me to stand at the next election.
“I will continue holding the new Prime Minister and his Government to account and ensuring constituents have their voices heard in Parliament. My commitment to rebuilding our NHS and support for carers endures undiminished - in our area GP numbers and NHS dentists have increased and we now have more pharmacies than before.
“But Musgrove Park Hospital’s urgent need for our new maternity unit has risen even higher up the agenda following the National Maternity Review’s judgement that it’s the ‘most challenging’ estate in the country. Bringing that forward is now my and the Liberal Democrats' top priority locally.
“I also want more help for people with the cost of living. The recent cut to energy bills by Andy Burnham is good but we would go further, reducing them by half and cutting VAT on the High Street.
“Our town centres are increasingly vibrant thanks to local people, despite unacceptable tax rises from government, however police officer numbers and a crackdown on illegal trading must be ramped up.
“And it’s time the scandal of profiteering from dumping sewage in our waterways was finally ended. We’re calling on the new PM to restore water to the public’s hands, so companies become mutuals, owned by customers and their employees instead of for profit by external shareholders.
“There are parties out there who would undo this kind of progress and decimate local services into the bargain. I’m ready to take them on at the next General Election whenever that comes."
John Wakefield, local party chair, added: “I am delighted that the Taunton and Wellington Liberal Democrats have re-selected Gideon as our candidate for the next General Election. As a campaigning MP on so many different issues, I have no doubt he will continue to work hard to improve our communities.
“In recent months we have seen the worst of politics – allegations of £5 million in undeclared donations to Nigel Farage, two senior Reform figures stepping down amid accusations of breaking electoral law, and the continued division of our communities.
“In Gideon Amos, we have an MP who is honest, trustworthy, and we know he will continue to deliver for Taunton and Wellington.
2024 General Election result: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat), 24,331 votes; Rebecca Pow (Conservatives), 12,392; Charles Hansard (Reform UK), 8,053; Brenda Weston (Labour), 3,552; Ryan Trower (Green Party), 1,832; Rochelle Russell (Communist Party of Britain) 134.