Ben Lake has emphasised his determination to use the recently-announced General Election to highlight the everyday issues that matter to people in Ceredigion.
He warned that the divisions over Brexit which have blighted the current Parliament may not be solved by another snap election, but pledged to campaign positively on key issues where he has made an impact in Westminster, including rural banking, improving digital connectivity, and a fair deal for public services in the area.
Ben Lake was elected as Ceredigion’s new MP in 2017, and since that time has earned a reputation as an energetic local campaigner who is willing to work across party lines to deliver for his constituency. He was named ‘Politician to Watch’ in ITV awards in 2017, and this year was nominated for MP of the Year.
“A third General Election in the space of five years isn’t what many people want,” said Ben Lake. “Given the extreme rhetoric coming from some of the party leaders in Westminster I’m not optimistic that it’ll help bring people together, or resolve the issue of Brexit. However, I’m determined to use this Election to highlight issues which have a real impact in Ceredigion.”
He pointed to the successes that had been achieved in the past two years, by working with local groups and campaigning on their behalf in Westminster; securing funding for increases in teachers’ pensions, £55 million of investment for the Mid Wales Growth Deal, reversing Barclays’ cuts to rural banking, and securing investment in mobile non-spots.
Ben Lake added, “There are so many things that we need to fight for in Ceredigion, and I’m determined to see these campaigns through. I want to continue to stand up for pension equality for thousands of women born in the 1950s, the future of the RNLI lifeboat at New Quay, and ensure that recently-announced investments in digital connectivity are delivered.
“It’s also vital that we use this election to emphasise how continued uncertainty and the prospect of a chaotic No-Deal Brexit are hurting people in Ceredigion – from our farmers and small businesses to universities, NHS and other public services.”