Both Michael Gove and Boris Johnson have thrown their support behind the recycling minister’s bid for re-election in her Taunton Deane constituency in Somerset.
Rebecca Pow, the current recycling minister, launched her re-election campaign for the seat last Friday, which she has held since 2015. The campaign comes after parliament was officially dissolved this week (6 November), paving the way for five weeks of campaigning before the General Election on 12 December.
Recycling Minister Rebecca Pow and former Environment Secretary Michael Gove in Taunton Deane (Rebecca Pow Twitter)
After travelling to Somerset on Friday to support Ms Pow, Michael Gove – the former environment secretary and driving force behind the government’s Resources and Waste Strategy –hailed Ms Pow as a ‘powerful champion for the environment’.
“Off to a flying start launching my re-election campaign in my home patch with @michaelgove”, Ms Pow said on Twitter after the event.
“And I’ll keep delivering locally on the Environment, #PowForThePlanet, and on jobs, skills, mobile connectivity, broadband, sustainable farming, wild flower verges, education budgets + more.”
Responding to this, Mr Gove said it was a “huge pleasure” to support Ms Pow in Somerset.
He commented: “She is a strong voice for Taunton and a powerful champion for the environment and our countryside.”
A huge pleasure to support the wonderful @pow_rebecca in beautiful Somerset- she is a strong voice for Taunton and a powerful champion for the environment and our countryside https://t.co/P0sv1NYsXf
— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 3, 2019
Prime minister
Ms Pow has also met other prominent Conservatives in recent days, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Mr Johnson told his colleague: “You have delivered so much, Rebecca, for the hospital, the marines camp and everything that you do for the environment.”
The Taunton Deane MP also met Chancellor Sajid Javid on 31 October before parliament dissolved. She said that along with Housing Minister Esther McVey she would be pressing Mr Javid for more funding for Somerset.
Delighted to have the full backing of the Prime Minister in my bid to return as the MP for Taunton Deane; to keep delivering locally & to respect the result of the referendum &
deliver Brexit which this constituency voted for @BorisJohnson @CountyGazette #VoteConservative : pic.twitter.com/gpo1bBqnZk— Rebecca Pow (@pow_rebecca) November 6, 2019
Ms Pow has held the waste and recycling brief since September, succeeding Therese Coffey(see letsrecycle.com story). She was formerly private secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs and has long been close to the Conservative’s vision for waste and recycling(see letsrecycle.com story).
Ms Pow, the Conservative candidate for Taunton Deane, won the 2015 and 2017 election. The constituency was previously held by the Liberal Democrat coalition MP Jeremy Browne since 2005 since it was created in 2010.
The recycling minister will now look to fight off competition in the constituency from Gideon Amos for the Liberal Democrats, Liam Canham for Labour, the Brexit Party’s Penny Rowson and independent candidate John Hunt.
The post Johnson and Gove back Rebecca Pow’s re-election campaign appeared first on letsrecycle.com.
Source: letsrecycle.com General
