Thursday 3rd July 2025 saw a by-election take place within Mendip Ward, with the Liberal Democrat’s retaining their seat and maintaining their 40 seat majority on BaNES County Council.
Of a total 2313 possible votes only 868 were cast. 1445 voters (approximately 63%) chose not to cast their vote at all.
Reform = 191
Conservatives = 84
Labour = 40
Greens = 57
Lib Dem’s = 496
The Lib Dem win equates to the support of only 21.5% of the electorate, or roughly 1 in 5 voters.
Despite the win they have very little overall support. 78.5% or 4 in 5 voters have not given the Lib Dems their support.
The Lib Dems will argue that winning gives them a mandate to introduce the Liveable Neighbourhoods plan and several changes to the A37 arterial route as well further housing and development that will threaten the green belt.
Does this present an argument for compulsory voting…?
https://newsroom.bathnes.gov.uk/news/cabinet-consider-increased-housing-figure-targets
https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BANES-Liveable-Neighbourhood-FBC.pdf
Mendip Ward BaNES - in need of Reform… 
Leave a comment