Political parties in Weston-super-Mare are making quick decisions over who will stand for them in June’s snap General Election. Here is a breakdown on who we know is standing so far, in the order they were announced…
Conservative Party.
John Penrose.
Mr Penrose has been Weston’s MP since 2005, when the seat swung from the Liberal Democrats.
He won in 2015 with nearly 16,000 votes.
Liberal Democrats.
Mike Bell.
It was a close call between the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives when Mr Bell last stood in the election, in 2010, where there were 2,691 votes between him and Mr Penrose.
Mr Bell is a Central Ward councillor on North Somerset Council.
Green Party.
Suneil Basu.
Mr Basu is a teacher at Backwell School, in Backwell, and a former member of the National Union of Teachers.
He stood as a Parliamentary candidate in Ealing Southall in 2010.
Labour Party.
Tim Taylor.
Mr Taylor stood in the election in 2015, where he came second to Mr Penrose with 9,594 votes.
He works as an HR manager and was a Weston Town Councillor for eight years.
UKIP.
Helen Hims.
Mrs Hims stood for UKIP in the election in the Wells constituency in 2015, where she finished third behind the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.
She runs a business with her husband in Shipham.
* We will update this story with any other candidates as they are confirmed.
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