Somerset West & Taunton Candidates
The new council of Somerset West and Taunton have published their list of candidates for the District elections. There is not a great deal of surprise here. The only party to contest all seats across the District are the Conservatives. And one lucky Conservative is Chris Morgan of Quantock Vale who will be elected unopposed as no other party put up a candidate.
Elsewhere the new council has struggled to attract willing candidates. In four seats there will be just two candidates, one LibDem and one Conservative: Exmoor, Wellington South Wilton & Sherford Ward and Monument. The latter sees Roger Habgood a leadership hopeful for the Conservative stake on Sarah Lithgow for the LibDems.
Also a two candidate race is Dulverton which sees Green Party candidate Caitlin Collins take on Conservative Nick Thwaites.
The other race that is bound to attract attention is that in Hatch & Blackdown where embattled Council leader John Williams take on Ross Henley of the LibDems and Colin Croad for Labour.
Elsewhere Labour have been selective about where they have put up candidates, only going for seats they believe to be winnable. UKIP and the Greens have a number of candidates and there are plenty of Independents standing too.
The full list of candidates can be found here: SWT District Election candidates