Yeovil: All you need to know about new Somerset seat

Yeovil is known for building helicopters, with about 3,300 employees working at the town's Leonardo Helicopters

Famous for its glove-making and producing helicopters - Yeovil is one of the biggest constituencies in Somerset.

The seat represents the largest population areas in south Somerset, including Yeovil, Chard, Crewkerne and Ilminster.

It has been held by Conservative MP, Marcus Fysh, since 2015.

The seat is now a target for the Liberal Democrats, after the party gained control of Somerset Council in 2022.

How has the constituency changed?

One of the most significant changes is that RNAS Yeovilton - one of the Navy's largest airbases - is no longer in the constituency.

The base will instead be represented by the MP for Glastonbury and Somerton. Montacute, Tintinhull and Norton-sub-Hamdon have also been moved out of Yeovil and into the Glastonbury and Somerton constituency.

What are some of the main issues?

One of the market town's biggest employers is Leonardo Helicopters, which employs about 3,300 people.

Yeovil is also a stone's throw from the A303, which is in the middle of an £135m upgrade.

BBC Radio Somerset listeners have said they are concerned about the difficulty of getting a GP appointment, booking NHS dentist check-ups, and controlling immigration.

Residents are also concerned about the decision to close the emergency stroke unit at Yeovil District Hospital.

Voters have also questioned who will fund the regeneration of the Octagon Theatre and Yeovil bus station.

Who are the candidates and what do they believe in?

Steve Ashton is the Independent candidate for Yeovil

Steve Ashton has lived in Crewkerne with his wife for 18 years and retired from a lifelong career at International Business Machines Corporation (IBM).

He is Somerset Council's councillor for Crewkerne and is a town councillor too.

Previously, he has been a governor at Yeovil District Hospital.

"I was a Conservative but left the party when I became unsatisfied with the performance of my MP on local issues," he said.

"I am standing for the retention of the Yeovil District Hospital Hyper Acute Stroke Unit."

He also wants "a practical and quick solution to return the Octagon to a usable state".

Laura Bailhache is the Reform UK candidate for Yeovil

Laura Bailhache, who is an Oxford graduate, lives and works in Taunton as a solicitor.

She previously stood for UKIP in the Taunton Deane constituency in 2015, when she won about 12% of the vote.

If elected, her top three priorities are to raise the income tax threshold to £20,000.

She wants to encourage small businesses by raising the VAT threshold from £85,000 to £150,000, and partly pay for this by scrapping interest payments to commercial banks on their quantitative easing reserves.

She said: "I hope these policies will encourage more people into work, leading to a much-needed rebalancing of the relative size of the public and private sectors in this country."

Adam Dance is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Yeovil

Adam Dance has lived in the Yeovil constituency at South Petherton all his life. He studied construction and landscape gardening, before setting up his own business.

He is also Somerset Council's councillor for South Petherton and Islemoor and the lead member for Public Health, Equalities and Diversity.

If elected, Mr Dance has promised "an NHS which works for all", particularly supporting "the elderly, the young and those with mental health concerns".

He has pledged to support local businesses and care for the natural environment, especially holding water companies to account for "the state of the rivers and waterways".

He said: "All these issues, and many more, are equally important, but the most urgent is addressing the health and social care needs of our community; this needs action immediately from the new Government."

Marcus Fysh is the Conservative candidate for Yeovil

Marcus Fysh lives in Barwick, Somerset, and near London. After studying at Oxford University, he managed a £3bn global investment funds at Merrill Lynch.

He has been a district and unitary councillor, and an MP for Yeovil between 2015 to 2024.

One of his key issues includes the A303 dualling, which create a three-mile dual carriageway link in Somerset.

He said: "Only Conservatives will continue investing on this scale in our local area.

"Pressing on with the dualling of the remaining sections of the A303 corridor - and in particular the Ilminster bypass - is essential."

Mr Fysh is also focused on a new Ministry of Defence helicopter deal for Leonardo Helicopters. He also wants to see more investment in Yeovil College, where a new £70m sports hall and teaching block is being created.

Rebecca Montacute is the Labour candidate for Yeovil

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Rebecca Montacute grew up in Somerset where her family has lived for generations.

She has a PhD in neuroscience and is the head of research and policy at a national education charity.

Ms Montacute said her top priority is "bringing local NHS services back from the brink" and cutting waiting times by "giving the NHS the staff and technology it needs".

She wants to tackle climate change and cut energy bills by creating a new publicly-owned clean power generation company.

Creating a "reliable and affordable public transport" network for local communities it also a priority.

Serena Wootton is the Green candidate for Yeovil

Serena Wootton has 25 years of teaching experience, runs her own business and has worked as a town councillor.

She said: "I am well-known for working extremely hard at setting up community support groups, standing up for better local services and campaigning for national policies that work better for people and the planet."

Her three priorities are to mend the "broken" NHS and offer "everyone access to an NHS dentist".

She wants to reform the planning system as per the Green Party's ‘Right Homes, Right Place, Right Price’ charter. This aims to make it easier to bring derelict homes back into use and build more council houses.

She is also championing "better, cheaper public transport, so that every community is connected and can thrive".