COUNTY councillor Mike Rigby says he will be a “champion” for Taunton Deane if he is elected as the constituency’s Independent MP at next May’s General Election.

Mr Rigby, of Bishops Lydeard, says the LibDems and Conservatives are losing support, while the Greens, Labour and UKIP aren’t going to win locally.

He said: “I am standing to give local people a real choice “What we need is someone free to speak up for our area without party interference – think of me as the ‘Taunton Deane First’ candidate.

“I intend to put Taunton first, free from party orders.”

Others contesting the seat will be Rebecca Pow (Conservative), Neil Guild (Labour), Laura Bailhache (UKIP), Clive Martin (Green Party) and a LibDem candidate, likely to be elected before Christmas to replace Jeremy Browne, who is standing down after two terms as an MP.

Mr Rigby, who has lived in the area for 20 years, said the public are disillusioned with the three main parties as they put their own interests before those of local people.

He added: “Many local people have approached me with comments along the line of, ‘Mike, we don’t know how to vote next year – you have a great record as an effective Independent councillor, so will you consider standing?’”

He claims people are dismayed at the “relative decline” in Taunton’s commercial fortunes and the town needs fresh leadership to ensure prosperity, jobs and trade.

Mr Rigby said getting elected won’t be easy, but he believes it is possible and he would be free from party orders if he gets into Parliament.

As an Independent on Somerset County Council, he opposed proposals to close the library in his village, cut funding for the county’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, selling off the West Somerset Railway and closing a children’s centre.

“Being independent meant that I was able to campaign, successfully, against all of these, said Mr Rigby.

“I have a particular set of skills well-suited to this task (of being an MP) and firmly believe that I can apply these for the benefit of the wider constituency as I have my current electoral division. Taunton needs a champion.”