SOMERSET’S Yeovil constituency has elected Liberal Democrat Adam Dance as its Member of Parliament, official declarations have confirmed.

Adam Dance will replace Marcus Fysh to serve the constituency. Mr Dance won 23,765 votes, a 48.55% share. Marcus Fysh, Conservative, won less than half that, with 11,497.

Here's how the other parliamentary candidates for the seat did: Independent Steve Ashton - 600 votes, Green Party Serena Wootton - 2,403,  Labour Rebecca Montacute - 3,002, and Reform UK Laura Bailhache - 7,677 votes.

Following his win in the Yeovil seat, Adam Dance told the County Gazette: “It's a real privilege to be representing this constituency where I grew up. To follow in the footsteps of Paddy and David.

"I plan to be an agent for change at Westminster and to rebuild the confidence of this community in their MP.

“The first thing I'm really looking forward to doing is actually having a constituency office which is open for residents to come in and have conversations with their MP and their staff.

“Because we've lost that over the years, and people really want a face-to-face contact again. We're losing our banks face-to-face. We're losing every means face-to-face. MPs work for the residents, and we really should have a constituency office.”

Asked if his constituency office will be in the centre of Yeovil, Mr Dance said he was “really hopeful” that it would be.

In his winning speech, Mr Dance thanked "his loving family" and "the people of Yeovil for putting their trust in me to be your MP, it's a real privilege."

He said: "Firstly, I will be an MP that works for the area like Paddy Ashdown. Who worked passionately every single day."

He added: "I will fight for local jobs, for a cleaner environment here, and better local health services."

Before being elected as Yeovil’s MP in Thursday’s General Election, Mr Dance served as a Liberal Democrat Councillor, Lead Member for Public Health, Equalities and Diversity.

During his campaign, Mr Dance, from South Petherton, said he would “press for A Fair Deal”, including “an NHS which works for us all, and in particular supports those most in need, be they the elderly, the young or those with mental health concerns”.

Mr Dance has called for “support for local businesses, both those on the High Street and our national companies such as Leonardo”.

During his campaign he also focused on “care for our natural environment, especially holding our water companies to account for the state of our rivers and waterways”.

Speaking ahead of his win, Mr Dance said: "I have been knocking on doors across the constituency for many years. I have listened to and heard the concerns of many people.

"But over the past year there has been more and more about the state of our NHS, the rising costs across the board, and our struggling businesses. 

"We need a new approach, both in Yeovil and at Westminster."

Mr Dance won the seat over six other candidates — Steve Ashton (Independent), Laura Bailhache (Reform UK), Marcus Fysh (Conservative), Rebecca Montacute (Labour), and Serena Wootton (Green Party).

Last week Sir Vince Cable, the former Liberal Democrat leader, spoke of his support for Mr Dance. He said: “I am here to support Adam Dance, who is an excellent candidate as I believe we will be able to bring the Yeovil constituency back to the Liberal Democrats, where Paddy Ashdown was the MP."

Yeovil has been represented by Marcus Fysh since 2015, he increased his majority in 2019. However, polls ahead of this year’s election were right to show a likely Liberal Democrat gain in the seat.

Yeovil has an electorate of 76,056, including Chard, Crewkerne and Ilminster.

Although the boundaries of the new Yeovil constituency have not drastically changed, the new seat does not include the villages between Podimore and the northern edge of Yeovil  — which have become part of the new Glastonbury and Somerton seat.