The national swing that has seen an increase in smaller parties and Independent candidates made its way to Bath & North East Somerset on May 2nd.

Independent Councillors were re-elected and gained an extra seat on the Local Authority, from five to six, with the election of Shaun Hughes, who is representing Midsomer Norton North.

Since the first Independent councillors were elected to the Council in 1999, twenty years ago, the idea has been for them to work together, share ideas and provide a collective voice for non-party community politics.

Councillors June Player and Colin Blackburn were re-elected to represent Westmoreland, and are now the only non-Lib Dem Councillors representing Bath. Councillors Sarah Bevan and Karen Walker were re-elected to serve Peasedown St John for another four years.

Councillor Doug Deacon was re-elected to represent Timsbury, where he has held the seat from 2007 (not pictured).

Spokesperson, Karen Walker, said: “For the last twenty years, Independent Councillors have provided a strong voice for those communities who choose to be represented by hard-working independents, rather than politicians who toe a party line.

“We have a strong team of six councillors now on B&NES who will stand up for their area!”