SOMERSET’s newest MP has announced which seat she will be contesting at the next general election.
Sarah Dyke become the Liberal Democrat MP for Somerton and Frome in a by-election held on 20th July, held following the resignation of the incumbent MP, David Warburton.
The constituency of Somerton and Frome will cease to exist when the next general election is called, being split into two, following a recent review by the Boundary Commission for England.
The MP has now announced she will be contesting the new Glastonbury and Somerton seat, setting up a rematch with Conservative candidate, Faye Purbrick.
The new Glastonbury and Somerton seat essentially comprises the western half of MP Sarah Dyke’s current constituency, including the towns of Bruton, Castle Cary, Langport and Wincanton – as well as her home village of Cucklington.
The seat also includes Glastonbury and the neighbouring village of Street, which are currently part of the Wells constituency.
Speaking exclusively to the Local Democracy Reporting Services, MP Sarah Dyke said, “These boundary changes have been forced upon us – this is not a decision I would like to have made so close to having won the by-election. Somerton and Frome is changing quite dramatically.
“Obviously lot of thought went into this. I know Frome very well – my partner lives there, I’ve grown up in the area, and Frome has always been a place that I know and love. However, I live in the new Glastonbury and Somerton constituency, and I can trace my family back here for 250 years.”
The MP said that her decision did not mean that she would be abandoning the people of Frome and the surrounding settlements between now and the next general election being called.
She said, “I have been elected to serve the constituency of Somerton and Frome. My work, right up until the next general election, will be focussed on the constituency that I represent.
“Frome will be absolutely within my remit – I’ve been working with lots of teams on lots of different initiatives. People should not feel that I am abandoning them.”
Tory challenger, Faye Purbrick, finished a distant second in the Somerton and Frome by-election, with MP Sarah Dyke outpolling her Somerset Council counterpart by a two-to-one margin.
MP Sarah Dyke remains a councillor in addition to her parliamentary duties, though she did recently step down from her role as portfolio holder for the environment and climate change, being replaced by Dixie Darch.
There is no legal obligation for councillors to stand down once they become MPs – and Sarah Dyke said she would continue to serve in both roles until the general election was called.
She said: “My Blackmoor Vale division sits within my constituency, so I feel the roles complement each other.
“My intention is very much to continue serving as a local councillor in the same way that Faye will be, and as Martin Dimery will be, even though he’s been selected the Green Party’s candidate for Frome and East Somerset.”
The Lib Dems have yet to formally announce their candidate for the Frome and East Somerset constituency.
The Conservatives confirmed last month that Lucy Trimnell, the current unitary councillor for Wincanton and Bruton, would be contesting this seat for their party.
The next general election must be held on or before 28th January 2025.
