Tories Fall Below 10% in Jacob Rees-Mogg’s Local Council Byelection as Lib Dems Retain Seat

In a striking result from the Mendip ward byelection for Bath and North East Somerset Council, the Liberal Democrats successfully defended their seat with a commanding 57% of the vote. Simon McCombe, a local police constable and resident near former Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg’s home, was elected with 496 votes, underscoring strong community support.

The election was notable not only for the Lib Dems’ resounding victory but also for the dramatic collapse in Conservative support. Jon Elford, the Tory candidate, received just 84 votes—under 10% of the total—marking the party’s poorest performance in a ward traditionally considered a Conservative stronghold. This decline was highlighted further by Reform UK’s Stuart Ball, who, in the party’s maiden contest for this seat, secured second place with 191 votes (22%).

The Mendip ward encompasses communities such as Temple Cloud, East and West Harptree, Cameley, Hinton Blewett, Coley, and North and South Widcombe. The byelection followed the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor David Wood, who vacated the seat due to health reasons. Wood had originally taken this formerly safe Conservative council position from then council leader Tim Warren in 2019 and subsequently increased his majority in the 2023 elections.

Kevin Guy, leader of the Liberal Democrat-run Bath and North East Somerset Council, praised the party’s performance, framing it as a bulwark against the rise of right-wing populism represented by Reform UK. “B&NES Lib Dems have shown that their values and proven competence are the only way to hold back the tide of Reform,” he said.

This byelection was the second for Bath and North East Somerset Council since the 2023 local elections, following a narrow loss for the Liberal Democrats in Saltford earlier this year.

Full Mendip byelection results: