AT the July 4 general election, the Liberal Democrats secured the seat of Frome & East Somerset.

However, despite the predicted victory for Anna Sabine, there was something in the result that has left many in the town – often described as bohemian by residents and the national press – somewhat surprised.

Reform UK’s David Swain received more votes than both the Labour Party and the Green Party, cementing Reform as the third largest party in the constituency behind the Lib Dems in first and Conservatives in second place.

Martin Dimery, who stood for the Greens, recently announced that he would now step down and let a younger candidate take up the challenge for the party.

And he said he was deeply disappointed to find himself in a constituency which “should have been easier for us”.

Reflecting on the election, Mr Dimery, said: “I was shocked to see trendy, bohemian Frome providing its share of Reform votes.

“Reform, a business owned primarily by Nigel Farage and backed substantially by the oil industry, has only eight councillors across the country.

“The Greens have more than 800 [councillors], yet Reform now has as many Parliamentary seats as us and constantly dominate the headlines.”

Martin Dimery sat next to Gavin Heathcote (Independent) at the Frome Town Council hustings Picture: Frome Town Council

Frome is routinely listed as one of the best places to live in the south west with its “independent feel” akin to Glastonbury and Brighton that attracts swathes of celebrities to its cobbled streets and independent shops.

The town council, of which its councillors are independent, prides itself on its inclusivity by celebrating refugee week and the town hosts a Multicultural Festival to celebrate the wide variety of cultures that dwell there.

With this vision of the town in mind, some Frome residents may have been surprised to see how those in the wider Frome and East Somerset constituency voted in the recent election.

Frome & East Somerset results:

• Anna Sabine – Liberal Democrats: 16,580
• Lucy Trimnell – Conservatives: 11,165
• David Swain – Reform UK: 6,441
• Robin Moss – Labour: 6,416
• Martin Dimery – Green Party: 5,083
• Shaun Hughes – Independent: 737
• Gavin Heathcote – Independent: 294

READ MORE: Conservatives endure a long night as Lib Dems sweep Somerset seats

Could it be that Frome is simply a bohemian bubble nestled in an otherwise more traditional west country political landscape, and that the rest of the voters in the constituency feel differently to those in the town?

It’s important to note that Somerton and Frome (the previous constituency before the boundary changes) had been held by Conservative David Warburton for eight years, before allegations of sexual assault came to light which resulted in Sarah Dyke and the Lib Dems securing victory in the 2023 by-election, followed up by Ms Dyke taking the new Glastonbury & Somerton seat on July 4.

But as well as Reform’s impressive performance, the Tories even came close to returning to power in Frome this year, after candidate Lucy Trimnell finished in second place.

The Lib Dem majority is just 5,415.

In a contrary performance to that across the country, the Conservatives saw an increase of roughly 1,000 votes this year compared to their result at the 2023 by-election, where they again finished in second place.

This Conservative base may have fed into Reform’s local strategy, as the candidate David Swain said while voters chose to align with his party to punish the Tories, it was his common-sense approach that resonated with those on the doorsteps.

He said: “Too much ideology and tribal loyalties can guilt people into sticking with the same old parties regardless of changing policy platforms.

“The Tories have abandoned their base as they move to the left. And Labour no longer represents working people. Our support comes from the most diverse cross section of the community.

David Swain next to Lucy Trimnell (Conservative) at the Frome Town Council hustings Picture: Frome Town Council

“From students and pensioners, to contractors and business owners, we represent British values and ordinary people. Many of whose feel abandoned and angry at the way the country has deteriorated in recent decades.

“With only six weeks to prepare a campaign and at the beginning with no money, no volunteers and only a vague plan, we have managed to capture the imagination and the hopes of local people, we now need to show them that this vote was not wasted and they are the first gathering of an important movement to reclaim British values and pride and fix our broken Britain.”

Martin Dimery finished fifth out of seven candidates for the Greens, despite his clear popularity in the town. He has a long-standing involvement with town affairs through being a Somerset Councillor and previously being director of the Frome Festival.

He said: “My disappointment will, no doubt, be shared by the Labour and the two independent candidates. It seems very ironic that the last four placed of the seven candidates are the only ones to be experienced councillors who also live in their constituency.”

Mr Dimery said the Liberal Democrat strategy was to put forward their party as the only alternative to the Conservatives, and suggested they inflated Tory polling figures to pose as the only alternative voice.

He added: “When the Reform candidate, with few posters, adverts, flyers and canvassing support, can come from nowhere to third place, just ahead of Labour, we can only conclude the public is simply watching the national picture, not the local one.

“Then there’s the Conservatives: Their candidate is an effective councillor in the neighbouring constituency. But why, after 14 years of corruption, misery and utter mismanagement would anyone want to vote for them? Well, over 11,000 did, despite a low-key campaign.

“The Tories and Reform combined would have beaten the Liberal Democrats. Did no one listen to Nigel Farage when he claimed the Liz Truss budget was the best in his lifetime?”

Frome, as is so often the case, has once again proved something of an enigma.