TESSA Munt, Liberal Democrat MP for Wells and Mendip Hills, continues to claim her councillor allowance from Somerset Council alongside her Westminster salary.
According to Mrs. Munt’s Register of Interests, since her election in July 2024, the MP continues to claim £15,500 a year for 15 hours work a week as the councillor for the Wells division. This is alongside her annual Westminster salary of £91,346.
Mrs. Munt is one of two Somerset MPs who continue to claim the councillor allowance, along with Adam Dance, MP for Yeovil. Dance has confirmed that he has “no plans to step down.”
Munt and Dance’s fellow Liberal Democrat MPs have taken different approaches towards balancing their public duties.
Glastonbury and Somerton MP, Sarah Dyke, stood down as a councillor in October 2024, and Rachel Gilmour, MP for Tiverton and Minehead, has signalled her intention to do the same in May 2025.
Read More: Somerset MP continued to claim councillor allowance after being elected to parliament
Ms. Munt was first elected to Parliament from 2010 to 2015 for the Wells constituency before being unseated by James Heappey. She was re-elected for the Wells and Mendip Hills constituency in 2024.
MPs also receive expenses to cover the costs of running an office, employing staff, having somewhere to live in London or their constituency, and travelling between parliament and their constituency.
Ms Munt did not respond to requests for comment.
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