BRIDGWATER’S newly reelected MP believes that his party will rebel if the Prime Minister does not go ahead with a referendum on Europe as promised.

Conservative Ian LiddellGrainger has reinforced the importance of a settled European relationship when pushing forward with the Hinkley Point C project.

The politician, who is now in his fourth term representing Bridgwater and West Somerset, has also said that over the next five years he will be focusing on inward investment in Bridgwater, as well as the ongoing traffic issues that have blighted the town’s roads.

Speaking to the Mercury about the importance of a European Referendum Mr Liddell Grainger said: “We would rebel if we didn’t get the referendum.

“It’s massively important that we get Hinkley moving again and the referendum is crucial in that – we can’t go on like this it needs to be sorted once and for all.

“There’s a lot of foreign involvement in the area – we obviously have the French with EDF playing a massive part but it’s not just Hinkley.

“We have got investment coming in a lot of our companies such as Gerber, Mulberry. This upset is not good for Bridgwater it has got to be determined.

 

“I think it’s a no brainer, you can’t ignore the people who voted for the party who wanted this referendum.”

Mr Liddell-Grainger, who was re-elected with more than 45% of the vote, says he will also be wasting no time in trying to get things moving at Hinkley C.

“It’s massively important for us for inward investment, for road infrastructure for all the things we have been fighting for.”

Following the UK Independent Party's surge into second place Stephen Fitzgerald, UKIP candidate said: “We polled 2,604 votes in 2010 and increased this by 7,833 to reach 10,437.

“This was achieved through hard work and dedication. “We will now plan ahead for the County Council Elections as well as the all important in/out referendum.

PR will also be on the agenda. We will not rest until we are out of the EU.”

However leader of the Labour Group, Mick Lerry, feels that the Tory triumph and UKIP’s dramatic rise was prompted by a Conservative campaign based on “politics of fear”.

He said: “We’ve made great strides compared to 2010 but I think the Tories played up to perceived fears.

“Despite Ed Milliband rejecting a potential coalition with the SNP, the message got to the public that it could be part of any new Government.”