🍂 Today is National Poetry Day, so as the seasons change, I thought I’d take the opportunity to share one of my favourites - ‘Ode to Autumn’ by John Keats. ✏️ The theme of this year’s National Poetry Day is ‘play.’ Visit the Forward Arts Foundation’s website to find out more and get involved.

🎓 Honoured to be mentioned as a ‘notable alumna’ of Harper Adams University during their first ever appearance on University Challenge. 🚜 Huge congratulations to Alastair, Rachael, John and Will for making history as the first team from any agricultural university to take part!

Wishing a peaceful and thoughtful Yom Kippur to Jewish communities across Glastonbury and Somerton, the UK and the world. G'mar Chatima Tova. #GlastonburyandSomerton #YomKippur2025

⚓ I had the pleasure of visiting Glastonbury and Street Sea Cadets on Thursday. It was inspiring to see young people building confidence, leadership & life skills, supported by dedicated volunteers. I’ll keep supporting groups like this that give young people safe spaces to grow & thrive.

🍂 A busy few days at Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference, speaking at events on farming, nature, food and animal welfare, and meeting brilliant young campaigners including Rylee from Somerset. I’m looking forward to building on these important conversations when Parliament returns in October.

I’ve written to the Rail Minister about the ongoing disruption on the West of England line. With emergency timetables, 40mph limits and cascading delays, passengers deserve better. I’m urging the Government to back long-term investment so our communities get a reliable service.

🚫 Labour is pushing ahead with mandatory Digital ID cards. ⚠️ They’d be expensive, ineffective and risk criminalising people who don’t have one. 🔶 The Lib Dems will always stand up for freedom and privacy. Join our national petition today:

This September I’m celebrating Catch the Bus Month 2025 with the brilliant Somerset Bus Partnership. Buses connect our communities in Glastonbury and Somerton, cut traffic and emissions, and help people access work, school and healthcare. I’ll keep pushing for stronger support for services. #CTBM

Last week I visited Gatcombe Farm in Devon, featured in the BBC documentary with Brian May. With vet Dick Sibley’s support they’ve shown how herd management can tackle bovine TB without badger culling. I’ll keep pushing for funding into testing and mitigation to help farmers across the UK.

watch highlights from our Animals Matter reception at @libdems.org.uk conference!👇 Thanks to @timfarron.bsky.social, @amcarmichaelmp.bsky.social and @sarahdykeld.bsky.social for supporting #AnimalsMatter 🐾

Recently I chaired a roundtable on building a nature-positive circular economy to cut plastic pollution & waste by reuse. A shift to a circular economy will create jobs, boost green growth & supply chain resilience. This will modernise production, drive clean growth & lead global sustainability.

Last week I spoke to BBC Politics South West about the cabinet reshuffle. Moving faces around simply won't work - the govt must address cost of living & issues facing the NHS & businesses to unlock growth & improve lives. So far they've totally failed to deliver on any of the change promised.

This week I met with the Minister for Local Transport, Simon Lightwood MP, to discuss the need for fairer, ring-fenced funding for integrated travel. Rural areas like Somerton and Langport - 12 miles from a train station - need reliable bus-rail links to boost growth and opportunity.

This week I attended an event to discuss the 5-year UK Peatland Strategy Progress Report. Peatlands play a vital role in storing carbon & building climate resilience. It was useful to reflect on opportunities & challenges as I await the rescheduling of the 2nd Reading of my peat bill.

Recently, I was pleased to speak to ITV News about the Environment Agency decision to withdraw crucial flood funding. #Somerset residents are at the forefront of climate change & many are already very anxious about the possibility of further devastating floods. This decision lets them down further.

I recently wrote to the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government to support a national caravan licensing system. With around 300 people living in vans in and around #Glastonbury, we need urgent steps to keep vulnerable residents safe and ease local tensions.

I was pleased to speak to BBC Radio Somerset about the Govt's Gambling Tax & I also raised it in Parliament recently. It would be disastrous to tax horseracing the same as harmful online gaming - damaging rural economies like ours, where Wincanton Races is such an important employer & contributor.

On Monday I was pleased to meet Martock Postmaster Jim Gordon again, to discuss the Govt’s Green Paper on the Future of the Post Office. The Govt must put the Post Office on a sustainable footing, to protect vital services & jobs, especially in rural areas with older communities & limited transport.

What is happening in Gaza is a genocide. And the President of the United States is doing nothing to stop it. Keir Starmer must raise this with Trump during the state visit.

Lynne Franks, creator of London Fashion Week & founder of the Seed Hub in #Wincanton, has made an incredible impact locally and globally in her remarkable career. Today I urged the govt to invest in arts education and apprenticeships to ensure the UK remains a world leader in creativity & fashion.

For #InternationalDayofDemocracy I reflected on my visit to politics students at Huish Episcopi Academy. The enthusiasm of young women in the classroom was striking but with rising misogyny politics can feel hostile. Today I urged the govt to champion female role models & inspire future generations.

In a speech in Parliament yesterday I highlighted the strain EHCPs place on councils, with applications up 26% and each costing £6,000. EHCPs aren’t always the right solution, yet they’re often the only option offered. The system is costly, slow, and fails too many children and families.

🎪 I had a great time at the #Lovington Festival this weekend, organised by the brilliant Lovington Primary School PTA. From my first ever silent disco to a go on the spinning teacups, it was a fantastic community event raising vital funds for the school with support from local businesses.

🏥 Now is a crucial time to give blood. A single donation can save up to three lives, but regular donations are vital as blood can’t be manufactured and has a short shelf life. If you can, please consider donating: buff.ly/9625aow

I really enjoyed this Sunday’s inaugural “Wellbeing & Wonder” event at #Glastonbury Town Hall. It was inspiring to see local initiatives promoting health, wellbeing & sustainability. I’m keen to find local multi-agency approaches that tackle links between poor health, anti-social behaviour & crime.

This weekend I joined Somerset Wildlife Trust's James Grischeff for a walk in Combe Hill Wood near #ComptonDundon. We discussed the Planning & Infrastructure Bill which risks weakening vital environmental protections. Lib Dems will keep scrutinising it & fighting to strengthen safeguards for nature.

🗣 I held another of my regular advice surgeries in #MilbornePort on Saturday. Thank you to everyone who came to share their concerns. I’ll keep standing up for our community and making sure your voice is heard in Parliament. Please do get in touch if you’d like to attend a future surgery.

Visited Castle Cary Station with @sarahdykeld.bsky.social where buses can now drop off passengers safely within the station complex. Discussed the need to improve the bus connections so more people could connect with trains without needing to drive by car to the station. #CTBM #CTBM2025

💚 This #SuicidePreventionWeek we’re reminded to treat mental health as seriously as physical health. If you’re worried someone may be suicidal, take action, listen & show you care. 👉 samaritans.org/WSPD #Somerset #GlastonburyandSomerton

This week as Lib Dem spokesperson, I highlighted how free-to-air coverage transforms perceptions. The women’s Hundred on the BBC drew thousands of viewers, many watching for the first-time. This boosts grassroots cricket & as a result clubs like Street, Ilton & Long Sutton Ladies continue to grow.

Yesterday as Lib Dem spokesperson, I highlighted how free-to-air coverage transforms perceptions. The women’s Hundred on the BBC drew thousands of viewers, many watching for the first-time. This boosts grassroots cricket & as a result clubs like Street, Ilton & Long Sutton Ladies continue to grow.

Yesterday in Parliament, I raised that one of the greatest barriers to neurodivergent people entering employment is the crisis in our SEND system. In Somerset, pupils receive £4,000 less than the most funded areas, denying early support and holding children back long before they reach the workplace.

Yesterday, whilst serving as the Lib Dem Spokesperson, I noted the disparity in women’s sport coverage. In 2023, BBC & ITV made up just 11% of women’s sport broadcast hours but 77% of viewing. We are clear: the lit of women’s fixtures on free-to-air TV must match men’s to boost visibility & access.

🚜 It's #BackBritishFarmingDay - Farmers put food on our tables & keep our rural economy alive, yet Govt decisions keep letting them down. As a 5th generation farmer’s daughter, I’ll keep standing up for Somerset’s farmers & pushing for fairer funding, clear labelling & support for British produce.

In today's EFRA Committee I raised deep concerns the Environment Agency plans to withdraw funding for main river maintenance. I urged the Minister to develop a working group & find a path forward to mitigate flooding risks. I'm pleased she listened & has agreed to meet with me & the IDB to discuss.

Yesterday, I was delighted to meet Lioness Lucy Bronze. Thanks to the Football Foundation, sites like Wincanton, Somerton, & Martock Recreation Grounds have received funding for new goalposts. Additionally, their work focuses on improving facilities for women which is vital to boost participation.

Yesterday I raised the findings from the Atherton Report, which found that 62% of female service personnel & veterans experienced bullying, harassment, or sexual assault. As we expand our armed forces, I pressed the minister on the need to improve protection & opportunity for servicewomen.

On Tues in Parliament I highlighted the Government’s plans for devolution fall short & reinforce centralisation. #Somerset’s Heart of Wessex bid matched the Government’s growth objectives but was excluded from the priority programme, denying rural communities fair representation & a stronger voice.

Delighted to meet Sue Tibballs & Holly Woodford in Parliament to discuss how funding models & poor facilities restrict women & girls participating in sport. With elite levels thriving, grassroots remain underfunded. A 50/50 funding model is vital to drive equal & inclusive access for women & girls.

I was pleased to meet UK Sepsis Ambassador Harry Redknapp in Parliament to discuss the dangers of sepsis. Early detection of symptoms like confusion, cold limbs, or rapid breathing is vital & Somerset is leading shorter course antibiotic trials to support faster treatment.

👮 I met Chief Inspector Andy Pritchard and local officers in Glastonbury for the rollout of Operation Harmony. This visible policing initiative tackles anti-social behaviour & shop theft, boosting confidence for residents, retailers & visitors. Report ASB online or call 999 in emergencies.

I recently wrote to the Chancellor to raise my concerns over plans to harmonise gambling duties. Treating horseracing bets the same as high-risk gaming products could strip £66m from the sport, putting #Wincanton Racecourse and thousands of rural jobs at risk. #GlastonburyandSomerton

🚁 It’s Air Ambulance Week. Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance is marking the occasion by lighting up landmarks in support, including Glastonbury Tor tonight (Mon 8th) in yellow and green. Proud to support their life-saving work across our communities.

This week I highlighted how Queen Camel Community Land Trust is working to create much-needed homes in South Somerset but faces barriers from limited finance & outdated planning. I urged the Government to prioritise community-led development to deliver affordable homes communities truly need & want.

This week in Parliament I highlighted that the Govt’s devolution plans fail to address the financial crisis facing councils. Somerset’s Lib Dem council is tackling years of Tory mismanagement with a bold 20-year green growth plan, but urgent & successful delivery relies on receiving fair funding.

This week I met with Minister for Data & Telecoms, to ask why rural areas like Glastonbury & Somerton lag behind the national average in broadband & mobile connectivity, undermining the viability of our communities. The govt must prioritise major investment in broadband for underserved communities.

Great to be back at Wincanton Racecourse last week with the fantastic team behind one of our key local employers. Horseracing supports 85k jobs & contributes £4bn p/a to the UK economy. Govt plans to raise betting duty risk harming racecourses. I’ll keep pressing them to protect this vital industry.

Last week I hosted a Small Businesses Roundtable to hear directly from local owners about the challenges they face. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. I’ll keep pushing in Parliament for a fairer deal on rates, energy, NICs, skills and trade for Glastonbury & Somerton.

Great to meet Nik & Bittu at the fabulous Baltonsborough Village Stores recently. I was pleased to support Nik when he contacted me about opening a Post Office service, so I’m delighted it will open on Thursday 20 November 2025 from 1pm. I wish Nik, Bittu and Yash all the best for their new venture.