Six in running for Mendip Hills by-election

By Laura Linham 17th Apr 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 17th Apr 2026

Six candidates will stand in the Mendip Hills by-election on Thursday, 7 May, to fill the vacant Somerset Council seat left by Tony Robbins, who died earlier this year.

Mr Robbins was elected in May 2022 as one of two Liberal Democrat councillors for the Mendip Hills division, a largely rural area covering villages between Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Shepton Mallet and Wells.

Tributes were paid after his sudden death on 8 February, with fellow councillor Edric Hobbs describing him as a "dedicated councillor" who was widely known and liked.

The six candidates standing, in alphabetical order, are Terry Ledlie for Labour, Abi McGuire as an Independent, Nicola Perold for the Conservatives, Sam Phripp for the Liberal Democrats, Greg Stone for Reform UK and Victoria Welsh for the Green Party.

Mr Ledlie has been a familiar figure in the Yeovil branch of the Labour Party for many years and stood for the party in the Yeovil constituency at the 2019 general election, where he finished third.

Ms McGuire, who lives in Shepton Mallet, was one of two independent candidates in the Wells and Mendip Hills seat at the 2024 general election, finishing sixth out of seven candidates.

Ms Perold lives in Chewton Mendip and has recently spoken out on access issues affecting a key route for horse-riders near Priddy.

Mr Phripp, who works at the Centre for Homelessness Impact, was once Somerset's youngest county councillor when he represented Frome North. He also went on to represent the Ashwick, Chilcompton and Stratton ward on Mendip District Council before it was abolished in April 2023.

Mr Stone has been a vocal critic of Somerset Council decisions, including council tax rises and the sale of local assets as part of efforts to balance the budget.

Ms Welsh, who lives in Wells, is chair of the Wells and Mendip Hills branch of the Green Party and works for the NHS.

Polling stations across the Mendip Hills division will be open from 7 am to 10 pm on Thursday, 7 May, with the result expected early the following morning. The winning candidate is due to be sworn in ahead of the next full council meeting on 20 May.