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.
Cllr Simon Coles Cllr Smith-Roberts was declared the winner by use of a computer algorithm - the modern equivalent of tossing a coin. Cllr Coles had led the LibDems to power in the SWT local election in May 2019 and was seeking to take back the reins of the party. But, as in a group vote after that election win, the vote was again tied. Cllr Coles, who is also a county councillor, said the LibDem group holds an internal AGM every year just like any other organisation. After the result was declared, he said: I have said I will continue to support Federica of course.