Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has set the date for an unexpected General Election on July 4, bringing forward the timeline significantly.

This decision significantly reshapes Somerset's political landscape, expanding the region's parliamentary representation from five to seven constituencies.

This reorganisation, approved by Parliament in March, followed the recommendations of the Boundary Commission for England which were honed through three rounds of public consultations.

The new constituencies now include:

• Bridgwater
• Frome and East Somerset
• Glastonbury and Somerton
• Taunton and Wellington
• Tiverton and Minehead
• Wells and Mendip Hills
• Yeovil

With the election approaching, the political parties are finalising their line-ups.

However, Labour is still to announce its candidates for the constituencies of Taunton and Wellington, Wells and Mendip Hills, and Yeovil.

In the Glastonbury and Somerton area, Reform UK has nominated Tom Carter, while Jon Cousins represent the Green Party. The Liberal Democrats have put forward Sarah Dyke, with the Workers Party of Britain selecting Angela Henderson. Labour's candidate is Hal Hooberman, and the Conservatives have chosen Faye Purbrick. , Labour is still to announce its candidate.

Meanwhile, the Wells and Mendip Hills race features Helen Hims from Reform UK, Independent candidate Abi McGuire, Tessa Munt for the Liberal Democrats, and Peter Welsh representing the Green Party. The Conservative Party has not revealed a candidate for Wells and Mendip Hills.

The current MPs representing Somerset, before the upcoming changes to constituency boundaries, are Rebecca Pow for the Conservatives in Taunton Deane, Sarah Dyke for the Liberal Democrats in Somerton and Frome, Marcus Fysh for the Conservatives in Yeovil, James Heappey for the Conservatives in Wells, and Ian Liddell-Grainger also for the Conservatives in Bridgwater and West Somerset.