SOMERSET MP Gideon Amos (Lib Dem, Taunton & Wellington) has been handed a frontbench role with the party – just under three months after being elected.

The first-term MP, who defeated Conservative Rebecca Pow at the July general election, has been revealed as the Liberal Democrats’ housing and planning spokesperson by leader, Ed Davey.

Mr Amos is no stranger to planning matters, having been an architect and urban designer, working on numerous managed housing and listed building projects.

He was appointed chief executive of the Town and Country Planning Association in 2000 and has previously sat on a number of government advisory groups for planning and eco development.

In 2009, he was made an OBE for services to sustainable development.

The announcement comes after the Lib Dems secured 72 seats at the July 4 poll, a massive gain of 64 representatives for the party.

Elsewhere, Dorset MP Vikki Slade (Lib Dem, Mid Dorset & North Poole) has been made housing, communities and local government spokesperson.

And former newspaper journalist Max Wilkinson (Lib Dem, Cheltenham) becomes the culture, media and sport spokesperson.

Announcing the new-look team, Mr Davey said: “My new frontbench will champion the people’s priorities, ensuring we hold the new government to account as a responsible opposition.

“I am humbled by the result of the General Election and the millions of voters who put their trust in the Liberal Democrats, including many for the first time.

“We will stand up for our communities every day on the issues that matter most, fixing health and care services, tackling the cost of living crisis and protecting our precious environment.

“I am so proud of my entire team of 72 Liberal Democrat MPs who will serve as strong local champions in Westminster as we clean up the mess left by the Conservative government.”

The full list of appointments is:
Leader of the Liberal Democrats – Ed Davey MP
Deputy Leader and Treasury Spokesperson – Daisy Cooper MP
Chief Whip – Wendy Chamberlain MP
Health and Social Care Spokesperson – Helen Morgan MP
Education, Children and Families Spokesperson – Munira Wilson MP
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Spokesperson – Tim Farron MP
Cabinet Office Spokesperson – Sarah Olney MP
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson – Calum Miller MP
Home Affairs Spokesperson – Lisa Smart MP
Women and Equalities and Scotland Spokesperson – Christine Jardine MP
Justice Spokesperson – Josh Babarinde MP
Business Spokesperson – Sarah Gibson MP
Energy Security and Net Zero Spokesperson – Pippa Heylings MP
Housing, Communities and Local Government Spokesperson – Vikki Slade MP
Transport Spokesperson – Paul Kohler MP
Science, Innovation and Technology Spokesperson – Victoria Collins MP
Culture, Media and Sport Spokesperson – Max Wilkinson MP
Defence Spokesperson – Helen Maguire MP
Work and Pensions Spokesperson – Steve Darling MP
Wales Spokesperson – David Chadwick MP
Northern Ireland Spokesperson – Al Pinkerton MP
London Spokesperson – Luke Taylor MP
Hospitals and Primary Care Spokesperson – Jess Brown-Fuller MP
Care and Carers Spokesperson – Alison Bennett MP
Mental Health Spokesperson – Danny Chambers MP
Universities and Skills Spokesperson – Ian Sollom MP
Trade Spokesperson – Clive Jones MP
International Development Spokesperson – Monica Harding MP
Europe Spokesperson – James MacCleary MP
Housing and Planning Spokesperson – Gideon Amos MP
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons – Marie Goldman MP
Shadow Attorney General – Ben Maguire MP
Deputy Chief Whip – Tom Morrison MP