NEW West Somerset MP Rachel Gilmour has supported a proposed amendment to the King’s Speech in one of her first Parliamentary votes calling for new action on the cost of living crisis and on healthcare and raw sewage discharges.

The Liberal Democrat party’s amendment called for more to be done to support families during the cost of living crisis and to tackle poverty.

The Liberal Democrats want the introduction of a national food strategy, free school meals to be extended to all children in poverty, and the two-child cap on child tax credit to be scrapped, as well as action to ensure rural communities and farmers were receiving adequate support.

The amendment also focused on improving the health and care system and ‘fixing’ the scandal of water companies discharging raw sewage into rivers.

However, the amendment was voted down by the new Labour Government.

Mrs Gilmour, who represents the new Tiverton and Minehead constituency, said: “One of my first votes in Parliament was to support our amendment that put stronger policies in place to fix the health and care crisis, get our economy back on track, and end the sewage scandal.

“This is all about delivering a fair deal and change for the better, and despite our amendment not being accepted I will do my utmost to ensure the Government listens to our concerns.”

The issues all formed part of Mrs Gilmour’s campaign which saw her win the seat in the General Election at the start of this month.