REFORM UK has confirmed four candidates in Somerset, with a further three expected to come.

Britain formally left the European Union in January 2020, and you would be forgiven for thinking it marked the end of Nigel Farage and the Brexit Party.

But from the ashes of the Brexit firestorm emerged Reform UK, a right-wing populist party intent on achieving net zero – on immigration, not carbon emissions.

The party says that, if elected, it will “stop all the woke nonsense” and “stand up for core democratic values”.

Lee Anderson (Reform, Ashfield) became the party’s first MP in March 2024 after losing the Conservative whip for refusing to apologise after he said “Islamists” had control of London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Conservatives will argue a vote for Reform is a vote for Labour or the Liberal Democrats, but really it means a vote for a more extreme Tory party.

After all, the 3.8 million UKIP voters in 2015 were told the same thing, but they created Brexit and the premiership of Boris Johnson.

Reform leader, Richard Tice, has confirmed the party will field a candidate in every constituency.

With four already selected for Somerset, three more will be on their way…

Bridgwater

A candidate has been selected and is currently going through the vetting process.

Reform has already dropped or suspended at least 12 parliamentary candidates after offensive social media posts emerged, even after passing background checks.

Nonetheless, Mr Tice defended the process.

“We haven’t got £30m to £40m a year like the Tory Party and the Labour Party have got to do their vetting,” he said.

Alexander Waugh, who was selected as the Brexit Party candidate in 2019, has confirmed to your Leveller he will not be standing.

Frome and East Somerset

David Swain, Reform parliamentary candidate for Frome and East Somerset

Reform will be represented by David Swain in the new constituency.

Your Leveller can confirm this is the same David Swain who served as chair of the Wells Conservative Association from June 2022 to November 2023.

According to the latest figures from Electoral Calculus, Frome and East Somerset is set to be a three-horse race between the Conservative, Labour and the Lib Dem candidates.

Glastonbury and Somerton

Tom Carter, Reform parliamentary candidate for Glastonbury and Somerton

READ MORE: ‘I’ll never tire’: Somerset MP reacts to Lee Anderson’s yawn during Commons question

Tom Carter, a former teacher at St Dunstan’s School in Glastonbury, has been selected to represent the party.

He will be hoping to defeat Lib Dem MP Sarah Dyke, who won the Somerton and Frome by-election in 2023, after Conservative David Warburton resigned following allegations of sexual harassment and Class A drug use.

Mr Carter said: “I have lived in Glastonbury for most of my life.

“After serving in the British Army I returned home to teach and raise a family.

“In these last 25 years I have seen this country get considerably worse under both Conservative and Labour governments.

“What state is this country in as I pass it along to my three boys, and the next generation, who are soon to be out in the world?

“The tax burden placed upon us is the highest in living memory and for what?

“The wasting of our taxes is something that we should all be very angry about.

“The country needs to change and find its way back from years of two-party politics, neither of which speak for the working people and poorest in this country.”

Taunton and Wellington

A candidate is yet to be selected for the expanded Taunton and Wellington constituency but Reform is currently encouraging applicants on its website.

To apply, visit reformparty.uk/taunton-and-wellington-constituency

Tiverton and Minehead

Frederick Keen, Reform parliamentary candidate for Tiverton and Minehead

Frederick Keen is the Reform candidate hoping to end Ian Liddel-Grainger’s 23-year career in parliament.

He said: “I have lived in west Somerset for nearly 20 years.

“I understand the local and national issues affecting the people of the constituency.

“I have run my own business for many years and worked in many countries around the world. I come from a working class background, apprentice trained.

“Married with two adult children and five grandchildren, I have a deep belief in this country and its people.

“I am passionate to regain the ‘Great’ in Great Britain.

“The only way is change, and the only way to change, is to vote Reform.

“Vote for me to stop this decline we all face under this inadequate leadership in Westminster.”

Wells and Mendip Hills

Helen Hims, Reform parliamentary candidate for Wells and Mendip Hills

In 2015, Helen Hims stood for UKIP in Wells, finishing with 5,644 votes, ahead of Labour and the Green Party.

Now, she will represent Reform.

She said: “I was born and grew up in Kent, and spent my early adult life in Sussex working for the NHS and the airline industry at Gatwick.

“I moved to Somerset in the mid-1990s and have lived in the beautiful village of Shipham ever since, where my husband and I brought up our large family and run a busy local business.

“I’ve been active in politics since 2012, and stood in Wells constituency as the parliamentary candidate for UKIP in 2015, where we secured third place.

“I was also Wells branch and Somerset county chair.

“In 2016, during the EU referendum, I acted as Somerset group leader for both Leave.EU and Vote Leave, and in 2019 I took on the role of south west regional manager for the Brexit Party, helping to secure our victory in the European elections.”

Yeovil

Steve Ashton, independent councillor for Crewkerne

READ MORE: Somerset councillor quits Tories for Reform in general election bid

A candidate is yet to be selected in Yeovil, but last month your Leveller broke the story that Cllr Steve Ashton (Ind, Crewkerne) resigned from the Conservatives in a bid to represent Reform at the next general election.

“The main reason is, I have an issue with our MP,” he said.

“We tried to de-select Marcus Fysh but he turned to the electorate.”

Mr Ashton, who currently sits as an independent on Somerset Council despite his Reform membership, submitted his application in March, but is yet to hear back.