Having joined the Liberal Party at 17, 43 years ago, I set my sights on becoming elected as a Member of Parliament.  After three attempts, this became a reality in the early hours of July 5.

I was overwhelmed with a sense of humility, pride in my team, and affection for my constituents. Having knocked on nearly 31,000 doors and spoken to 12,000 people across the whole of Tiverton and Minehead: my home for 34 years. What next?

A hastily arranged journey to Westminster, meetings with Sir Ed Davey MP and my fellow 71 Liberal Democrat MPs, followed by a whirlwind tour of The Palace of Westminster. Armed with a laptop, and a new parliamentary email address, my work began. Thousands of emails poured in: some from lobbyists and, most importantly from constituents seeking my help and opinions on topics ranging from the war in Gaza to assisted dying. With no staff, I set about answering as many of the latter as I could. This involved staying up all night on occasions and recruiting the best team I could in the constituency was an urgent priority.

Now, nearly 3 months later, having circumnavigated Parliamentary bureaucracy, my Constituency Team of 6 is in place. My surgeries can begin – up to 10 a month in Tiverton, Minehead and Wiveliscombe, including a monthly Farmers’ Surgery on Exmoor. Please make an appointment to come and see me at one of them.

Being an MP is an immense privilege – people entrust their deepest concerns and worries to you. Travelling across the constituency has taught me that we live in one of the most beautiful parts of the UK. BUT beneath the landscape there are many problems: rural poverty, lack of transport, our health and education services are at the point of collapse, our rivers are polluted, and people are still suffering from the cost of living crisis. We need to work together, despite political differences, to work for change. As your MP, I will lead the charge.

Finally, a meeting I had with families of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza left me with a feeling of great sadness about what happens when people are divided by political ideology. Their quiet determination and dignity to see their relatives released rose above blame and hate. Kol Hakavod.

Let’s work together, as a community, to change the lives of people in Tiverton and Minehead for the better. I am at your service.