Labour announced Rebecca Montacute as their parliamentary candidate for Yeovil on Tuesday last week.

Dr Rebecca Montacute is calling for “a fresh start for Yeovil after 14 years of failure from the Conservatives.”

Dr Montacute added: “My priorities are reducing the cost of living for constituents, bringing local NHS services back from the brink, re-invigorating our high streets, tackling climate change and improving local public transport.”

The Labour Party candidate grew up in Somerset, attending local state schools. She has a PhD in Neuroscience and worked as an expert advisor to MPs on scientific issues in Parliament.

Dr Montacute currently works as the Head of Research and Policy for a national education charity. She has campaigned for improved mental health services across Somerset.

Dr Montacute said: “I’ve secured change for residents here before. In 2018 I lost my mum after failures in mental health care locally. I successfully fought for lessons to be learnt from her death, and for changes to mental health services to make them safer for everyone across Somerset.

“I have experience working on policy at a national level, and have successfully fought for change in Westminster to benefit the most disadvantaged children.”