Archive - Wednesday, 4 November 2009


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Mass walkout by Somerton councillors because of blogger's criticism

ELECTIONS will be needed following a mass resignation of councillors serving on Somerton Town Council.

Help is at hand for first-time voters in Somerset New elections will have to be held in Somerton following mass resignation by councillors

Eleven of the council's 15 members resigned last week at a dramatic meeting after becoming increasingly fed-up of criticism from an internet blogger Niall Connolly.

He attended the meeting himself and told the BBC that he did not think that his comments on his Muck&Brass blog had forced them to quit.

"If blaming Muck&Brass helps these ex-councillors to sleep at night then that's fine but it ignores the truth," he told the BBC.

South Somerset District Council will now have to hold new elections as there are now too few councillors on the Somerton council to make decisions.

Former council vice-chairman Tony Canvin told the BBC: "I'm not going to tolerate this criticism when I'm working for the town.

"I said, 'I've had enough' and handed in my resignation."