Local Wellington councillor Ross Henley is to seek nomination as the next parliamentary Liberal Democratic candidate for Taunton Deane, to contest the seat now that MP Jeremy Browne has announced he is to stand down at the General Election next May.
Councillor Henley represents Wellington East on Wellington Town Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council. He is Deputy Opposition Leader on Somerset County Council.
Commenting on his decision, Councillor Henley said, “I have been a district or county councillor in Taunton Deane constituency for the last 23 years . I represent Blackdown and Neroche on Somerset County Council which includes Wellington East and many surrounding villages.
I was educated at Beech Grove and Court Fields schools and have lived in Wellington for 40 years. I passionately believe an MP should fight for the issues that concern local residents and I feel that representing a massive urban and rural area which stretches from Wellington to Hatch Beauchamp and the Blackdown Hills has given me a good start to put myself forward to stand for this area. I was shortlisted for the Somerton and Frome seat earlier this year.”
Gill Slattery, Chairman of the Taunton Deane Liberal Democrats, said: “We expect to have a candidate selected by Christmas.”