First day the office for region's newly elected MPs

Many have been posting pictures of their first train to Westminster

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
Author: Andrew KayPublished 8th Jul 2024
Last updated 8th Jul 2024

The West County's newest Lib Dem MPs are all heading for a big meeting today in Parliament after they secured their party's biggest number of seats in a century.

They’re now the third largest group at Westminster with more than 70 MPs.

Many are current councillors and Martin Wrigley, who won the Newton Abbot seat for the Lib Dems and is leader of Teignbridge Council, says he plans to stand down - adding: "Long term it's not compatible as being an MP is a full time job, but it will take a little while to hand over all the projects that are in process and everything else.

"I'm not going to force a bye-election on the good people of Dawlish three minutes after having a general election."

Sarah Dyke, the Liberal Democrat MP for the newly created Glastonbury and Somerton will return for her second Parliament this morning and welcome the new faces.

On day one, she plans to call for an emergency Health and Care Budget, 'to support local health services on the brink'.

She said: "Somerset has lost 54 fully qualified GPs since 2016 and only 37% of adults in the county were seen by a dentist in 2023, compared to 56% in 2017.

“We have listened to the concerns that countless people have put to us on the doorstep, from the crisis facing our local health services to the filthy sewage being pumped into our rivers, to spiralling mortgages and rents, and I promise to be your local champion and take these issues right to the heart of Parliament.”

Sir Keir Starmer will meet Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly as he continues his tour of the UK.

The Prime Minister is visiting Belfast following his trip to Scotland on Sunday.

He will be at Stormont on Monday morning as he begins his first full week in office, ahead of travelling to the Nato summit in Washington on Tuesday.

The former Wells MP James Heappey, who did not stand again in 2024, posted these two pictures recently

Sir Keir will have talks with the leaders of the Stormont powersharing Executive as well as with representatives from the main political parties.

Conservative former minister Kevin Hollinrake has said there is not "any rush" to find a new party leader.

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