ELECTIONS: David Laws believes LibDems CAN win back Yeovil

FORMER MP David Laws believes the Liberal Democrats can bounce back strongly at the next General Election and reclaim the Yeovil Constituency.

Mr Laws is still “acclimatising” to the fact that he is no longer the Yeovil Constituency’s MP – a post he had held for 14 years until last week’s election in which he lost the seat to Conservative candidate Marcus Fysh; and a seat his party had held since 1983.

But he told the Yeovil Press today (Tuesday, May 12, 2015) that he believes the LibDems can win the seat back at the next election of 2020.

“We can take this seat back at the next election,” he said. “The results from the local elections show that we are still the biggest party on South Somerset District Council and still control the town councils in Yeovil, Chard and Crewkerne - that means we have got a very good basis for the future.”

PHOTO - TOP: David Laws his constituency office in Yeovil earlier today (Tuesday, May 12, 2015).

But the million dollar question is – will David Laws be the person to lead the LibDems in Yeovil at the next election?

“The constituency Liberal Democrat party will have to think about what it does and so will I. The party will have to decide who is the right person for the job.

“I will let them know my views reasonably quickly to allow them to get on with things.”

Mr Laws admitted that losing his seat meant that he had “unfinished business” in politics.

“There is always unfinished business and always things to do as MP,” he said. “I’m very sad that I won’t be able to carry on with the work I’ve been doing such as the upgrading of the A303/A358, helping to secure key contracts with AgustaWestland and work with community hospitals and schools.”

Mr Laws said that the past 14 years had provided him with a very “varied job” working one day sorting out problems of potholes outside somebody’s home to helping to decide on foreign policy the next.

“Every day has been different,” he said. “You have to accept the ups and downs of politics and you can’t whinge about that position.

“I have no regrets and I will look back on my 14 years with pride and fondness. Even the grind of constituency casework and advice surgeries have been so rewarding because I’ve been helping people.”

Mr Laws, who had served three terms as Yeovil MP, said that he had enjoyed recent years in which he had been part of the previous Coalition Government.

“It was very challenging and rewarding being in Government sitting around the Cabinet table making decisions on things that really do matter,” he said.

“It’s been a huge privilege to serve in Westminster where I was one of 650 MPs making decisions on behalf of 60million people.”

PHOTO - RIGHT: David Laws looks on as Marcus Fysh makes his first speech as the new MP for Yeovil following the announcement of the result at last week's General Election.

The General Election of last week was a disaster for the LibDems with them ending up with just eight MPs – a decrease of 49.

Mr Laws said there was a political “tidal wave” on the day which saw voters swayed towards Conservative with fears of Labour and the Scottish National Party forming a Coalition.

“There are times in politics when you get tidal waves in one direction and there is nothing you can do about it,” he said.

Mr Laws admitted that he heard at around 11.30pm on Thursday (May 7, 2015) that the Yeovil vote was not looking good – although it was not until 6am the following morning when the result was formally announced at the Westland leisure complex.

His vote had fallen from a high of 31,843 in 2010 to 18,865 this time around and lost out to the Conservatives by 5,313.

“We still had a very good number of people who voted Liberal Democrat – enough to fill Yeovil Town’s Huish Park stadium twice over,” he said. “I would like to thank everyone who voted for me on election day and everyone who has supported me over the past 14 years.”

Top of his “thank-yous” were his office team who between them have 75 years service to the LibDem movement in Yeovil between them.

Mr Laws said that it was now “strange” not being at Westminster after 21 years. He had worked there for the LibDems as an economic adviser and then a director of policy and research for seven years before becoming Yeovil MP in 2001.

You get the feeling that he will miss Westminster.

But will he back to fight for the Yeovil seat in 2020? We will have to wait and see…..

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Elections.