Rebecca Pow was first elected as the Conservative MP for Taunton Deane in 2015, being reelected in 2019 with a majority of 11,700.
The constituency of Taunton Deane is found to the west of Somerset. It includes the county town of Taunton close to the M5 motorway, and the smaller market town of Wellington close to the border with Devon near the Blackdown Hills. This is a mixed seat which contains a number of commuters who travel by road or rail into either Bristol or Exeter, as well as a large agriculture presence. There is also a high number of people over retirement age here, said to account for a fifth of the population.
Although the Conservatives won here with relative comfort in 2019, this area is traditional Liberal Democrat and Conservative marginal territory. This area was represented by the Lib Dems between 1997 and 2001, by the Conservatives between 2001 and 2005, the Lib Dems between 2005 and 2015, and the Conservatives since that date.
Pow was appointed Under Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity in 2019.
She previously served as Under Secretary of State for Arts, Heritage and Tourism in 2019.
Born in 1960 into a farming family, Pow was educated at London University. A scientist by training, Pow initially worked for the National Farmers Union, before becoming an environment correspondent on the television variously with the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4.
After 2003, she also set up her own Production Company, Pow Productions.
Pow supported Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
Rebecca Pow is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Rowing.
She is married with three children.
Email: rebecca.pow.mp@parliament.uk
Personal Website: http://www.rebeccapow.org.uk/
Twitter: twitter.com/pow_rebecca
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaPow
