Frome councillor jailed for Just Stop Oil protest resigns

By Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Mumby 

A Somerset councillor who was jailed for his role in a Just Stop Oil protest on the M25 has formally resigned, triggering a by-election. 

Michael Dunk (known as Mick) was one of two Green Party councillors elected to represent the Frome West division at Somerset Council in May 2022. 

He was among Just Stop Oil activists who climbed gantries on the M25 in November 2022 to demand an end to new fossil fuel projects. 

Mick was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on 5th December 2025 to 26 months in prison after being found guilty of causing a public nuisance. He was also ordered to pay £4,380 in costs and a victim surcharge of £228. 

He was later released on licence and has been subject to curfews at his home address in Frome. 

Following an unsuccessful appeal against his conviction, Mick has now stepped down as a councillor. Under Somerset Council’s constitution, anyone convicted of a criminal offence and given a prison sentence of at least three months cannot remain as a councillor. 

In his resignation statement, he said, “This was certainly not an action that I took lightly, but in October of 2022 the government had decided to issue a lot more oil and gas exploration licences for the North Sea. 

“All the scientific evidence suggested that this policy would have made it impossible for the UK to meet our climate change target to remain below 1.5 C of warming. 

“Any ‘reasonable’ person would want to prevent extreme global warming in order to protect future generations allowing them to have an inhabitable planet.” 

He added: “I am sadly unable to continue representing those who elected me but consider that I acted in their best interests. 

“I want to thank the council officers and councillors who are doing all they can in difficult financial circumstances. 

“It has been a privilege to work with them and serve those residents of Frome West whom I represented.” 

Somerset Council has not confirmed when the by-election will take place. 

A spokesperson said, “We have been notified of circumstances which mean that Michael Dunk has ceased to hold office as a councillor. 

“The appropriate statutory and administrative processes are now being followed in relation to the resulting vacancy. 

“Further information regarding the vacancy, including any electoral arrangements, will be communicated in due course.” 

Until the by-election is held, all casework for residents in the Frome West division will be handled by its other sitting councillor, Martin Dimery. 

Whoever wins the by-election will hold the seat for less than a year, with the next round of local elections for the whole of Somerset taking place in May 2027.