Alongside farming and food manufacturing, tourism is the key industry here in Somerset. Last year, the tourism industry was worth £1.3 billion and supported around 34,000 jobs in the county.

I believe that there is so much more potential in local tourism, and I can see a role for the Government and local authorities in working with Visit Somerset to make sure that potential is unlocked.

Whether it be beating water issues, threats to the local countryside or helping with marketing our county to the outside world, I will seek to engage central government to make sure that our local tourism industry drives further growth in the economy over the next few years.