LOCAL MPs Rachel Gilmour and Gideon Amos have been criticised for failing to attend last weekend’s Parliamentary recall to save British Steel.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer considered the future of steel production so critical to the country’s security that he called the first Saturday sitting of MPs since the Falklands War in 1982.

But both Wellington and West Somerset Liberal Democrat MPs Mr Amos and Mrs Gilmour stayed at home.

Mrs Gilmour was reported to have been seen shopping in Minehead, while Mr Amos said he spent time with ‘volunteers’ locally.

Exmoor farmer and Conservative political campaigner James Wright said: “If you want to be an MP, you ought to show up when the country calls a historic vote like this.”

MP Rachel Gilmour has been made vice-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Farming.
West Somerset MP Rachel Gilmour was said to have ‘gone shopping’ instead of attending an exceptional Parliamentary session to save British Steel. ( )

Mr Wright said it was ‘a dereliction of duty’ as people reported seeing Mrs Gilmour shopping in a Minehead charity shop instead of attending ‘one of the most significant Parliamentary sittings in recent memory’.

He said: “This was not about party politics, it was about whether Britain can still make its own steel.

“The whole country was watching.

“And our MP did not even turn up.

“If she had a good reason, let us hear it.

“But from what I am hearing, she was shopping while the country was trying to save its steel industry.

“Gideon Amos did not attend, either.

“Rural economies like ours rely on strong national supply chains, from steel in construction to jobs in transport and energy.

Gideon Amos MP has called on the Chancellor to deliver a Spring Statement on Wednesday, March 26, to “save Taunton and Wellington’s businesses”.
Wellington MP Gideon Amos chose to stay at home when Parliament was recalled to save British Steel.

“When you let a key industry collapse, the ripple effects hit every corner of the country.

“This was the first Saturday sitting of Parliament since the Falklands War.

“If that does not warrant showing up, what does?”

Mrs Gilmour said: “I had important constituency commitments, where I met with a group of Exmoor farmers to discuss their issues, but we were well represented.

“Ed Davey and our deputy leader Daisy Cooper led the charge on ensuring the Government comes back to Parliament for another vote if they want to use these far-reaching powers longer than six months.”

Questioned on her shopping trip, Mrs Gilmour’s spokesperson said: “After meeting with farmers, Rachel spent time in her constituency, as she does regularly.

“While in Minehead, Rachel conducted some other business, and was able to receive casework from constituents who were able to see her in person.”

Wellington MP Mr Amos said: “On the day of the debate, once we had decided as a Parliamentary party to support the Bill, and knowing we would be well represented by our relevant spokespersons and that there was not likely to be any vote, I honoured a longstanding obligation to volunteers here in the constituency.”

Mr Amos said he had closely monitored the debate in the House of Commons and was ‘ready to travel to London if things changed’.

He said: “As a Parliamentary party, we supported the important measures to protect British steel making, a decision which I backed.”

“When I return to Parliament I will continue to support tougher measures to ensure British projects are made from British steel.”