The MP for Frome David Warburton, who has not worked in the House of Commons since April last year, has indicated he will stand for re-election.

It comes as anger also grows on the new plans for HOW you will be allowed to vote in the local elections in May, and when any general election is called.

The rules have changed - and while the local Liberal Democrat candidate for Frome is angry at those plans, if you want to get your cross in the box, you need to be ready.

You will need photographic ID to vote. Valid forms of Voter ID include:

• a passport
• drivers licence
• blue badge
• older person's bus pass
• or a number of other forms of Voter ID

You can use old passports and ID but only if the photo still looks like you.

And for youngsters able to vote for the first, student cards are not accepted. You can apply HERE for a Voter Authority Certificate - the name given to the new piece of documentation demanded by the government, which will last for the next ten years. 

Somerton and Frome Liberal Democrats say voter ID is thinly veiled voter suppression

A significant change to election law that will see voters forced to show photo ID at polling stations has been branded "thinly veiled voter suppression" by Lib Dems.

The new requirements stem from the Conservative government's Elections Act 2022 and will apply to the voters will need photo ID when voting in person for most local elections and referendums from 4 May 2023 and from October 2023 it will apply to General Elections.

Residents will be asked to show their identification documents to poll clerks to obtain ballots at polling stations. Lib Dems have warned that the law risks disenfranchising many people who don't have photo ID.

Sarah Dyke, Liberal Democrat PPC for Somerton and Frome said: "These new rules are completely unnecessary and create a new barrier to residents exercising their democratic right to vote.

"The Government's claim that it is combating voter fraud is baseless. In 2019 there was just one conviction for in-person voter fraud in the entire country. "Clearly the intention is to reduce turnout amongst voters who are less likely to have one of the approved forms of ID. Coincidentally, these are voters who are less likely to vote Conservative. This is a fundamentally illiberal policy imposed by an unethical government.

"For the Conservatives to put a tremendous amount of energy into this during a cost-of-living crisis, and then pile more pressure onto local authority budgets through the implementation of this policy, is infuriating. It shows their policy agenda does not match up with the priorities of local people and the massive challenges we collectively face."

The Electoral Commission has published the full list of acceptable forms of identification; driving licences, passports and bus passes, as long as your photo is still a good likeness will be included. Postal voting arrangements will not be affected.