Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke has been appointed as the Liberal Democrats' new rural affairs spokesperson.

The announcement was made by party leader Sir Ed Davey on Tuesday. Dyke, a fifth-generation farmer's daughter, joins the Liberal Democrat front bench having already been elected to the EFRA Select Committee and serving as chair of the Rural Services All Party Parliamentary Group.

Dyke thanked her team for their work over the past year, and said: "As a fifth generation farmer's daughter representing a large rural constituency, I know how important it is that the voice of every rural community across the country is heard loud and clear in Westminster. I am grateful to Ed Davey for offering me this role, and really looking forward to getting started."

She added: "From farming, nature and food security to transport, housing, and digital connectivity, the challenges facing rural Britain are unique and urgent. I look forward to championing issues that matter to farmers and rural communities to build strong and thriving local economies, working with colleagues across Parliament to drive positive change, and holding the Government to account to ensure our countryside and the people who live and work there get the fair deal they deserve."

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