Bath MP Ben Howlett urges support from residents following General Election call

Bath MP Ben Howlett has urged the support of residents across the city, following the call yesterday by the Prime Minister Theresa May for a snap General Election at the start of June.

The MP, who was elected in May 2015, issued the following statement following the announcement:

“It was the greatest privilege of my life to be elected to serve the people of Bath as their local Member of Parliament.

“Fellow residents put their trust in me to represent them in Parliament, to tackle the big issues affecting the city and deliver my ‘Six Point Plan’. Since then I have worked tirelessly to deliver that plan.

“In two years I have delivered more than my Liberal Democrat predecessor managed in thirty. That is why I need your help to renew that mandate so I can build the A36-46 link road and introduce that long-overdue Clean Air Zone.

“I want to continue with the fastest rate of house building in Bath and North East Somerset’s history, so more young professional families can get that first step on to the property ladder. I also want to build on the success Ben’s Best of Bath Business Awards to champion our small independent businesses.

“I am determined to continue to help the most vulnerable through the newly established Action Against Child Poverty Group I helped create and lead cross-party working on homelessness throughout our city.

“Bath needs a champion now more than ever, one who is willing to stand up to the Government as well as his convictions whilst putting residents first. Over the last two years I have not tried to be everyone’s best friend, but have shown that I can get things done.

“That is why I need your help to continue with my plan and gain a fresh mandate to deliver in the interests of the whole of Bath. I recognise that the result of last year’s referendum was not what I, or the majority of Bath residents wanted and I campaigned tirelessly for a different outcome.

“However, the country spoke and democracy is what makes our nation great, and I want Bath to unite behind me to ensure we secure the free trade deal our country and city needs as our Prime Minister negotiates our exit from the European Union.

“As the Prime Minister said, we have a choice at this General Election – a strong and stable Conservative Government with Theresa May as our Prime Minister or a weak and unstable coalition with Jeremy Corbyn at the helm, propped up by a Liberal Democrat and SNP coalition.

“Our country needs the strong leadership of Theresa May to steer us through one of the most complex periods of British political history.

“For all of these reasons I have decided to stand again to be your local Member of Parliament for Bath, my home. I hope I can count on your support on June 8th so that I can continue to represent the beautiful city that my partner and I call home.”