Lib Dem MP for Wells and Mendip Hills, Tessa Munt, is calling for greater support to save local businesses, as new analysis reveals the extent of closures.
According to official ONS figures, Somerset saw 60 businesses close their doors in the first half of 2026. This comes after the same region lost 35 local shops between 2019 and 2024, under the previous Conservative Government.
The MP is pressing the Government to take urgent action to reverse this trend. The Lib Dem plan to support local businesses includes an overhaul of the broken business rates system and abandoning the unfair National Insurance Contribution (NIC) hike.
Tessa Munt MP said:
“Across my ‘patch’ we’ve seen an unacceptable rise in business closures, following decades of neglect and mismanagement by consecutive Labour and Conservative Governments. Sky high business rates threaten our tourist industry, shoplifting impacts our high streets, and I will continue to do all I can to challenge the Government on this.”