A PARLIAMENTARY candidate for the Wells and Mendip Hills constituency  has been picked for a unique project.

Independent candidate Abi McGuire was hand picked to feature in a national project called 'The Hopefuls', which aims to engage first-time voters, encourage them to register to vote, exercise their democratic right and remind them that their voice matters.

This project is both self-funded and non-partisan, organised by portrait photographer Tom Oldham, and creative producer Ruth Newton.

Several parliamentary candidates across the nation are featured, each with their own respective portrait photo which features on the website's home page.

Ms McGuire chose to have her photo taken at Shepton Mallet Prison, which lies within the Wells and Mendip Hills Constituency.

Abi will stand against the following candidates at the general election on Thursday, July 4.

  • Independent: Craig Clarke
  • Reform UK: Helen Hims
  • Labour: Joe Joseph
  • Liberal Democrat: Tessa Munt
  • Conservative: Meg Powell-Chandler
  • Green Party: Peter Welsh

She said “Our political system is in a mess.

"People tell me on the doorstep that they don’t know how to vote.

"I want to provide people with a real option they can get excited about."