It comes weeks after the party leader, Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, narrowly clung on to her position. She was challenged for the leadership by her predecessor Cllr Simon Coles, who tied 15 all in a vote. The Lib Dems won the inaugural election to the newly-created council in May 2019, winning 30 of the 59 seats and pushing the ruling Conservatives into third place. The party held the seat of Trull, Pitminster and Corfe in a by-election on Thursday (May 6). But the group will now have to govern as a minority after two of its councillors resigned – with a third stating he would sit as an independent due to “differences” with the council’s leadership.