We contacted all of the candidates vying for your vote to be the next MP for the Wells and Mendip Hills constituency, asking each of them the same questions. We've taken their responses exactly as they were sent to us - so you know where each of the candidates stand, to help you decide who to vote for.

Here's their responses to the question:

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your background:

What is your relationship with Wells and Shepton Mallet? How long have you been connected to this area, and in what capacities?

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your background.

What is your relationship with Wells and Shepton Mallet? How long have you been connected to this area, and in what capacities?

Meg Powell-Chandler - Conservative:

"I was born in Gloucester and grew up outside Tewkesbury. My mum was a hospital doctor, specialising in diagnosing breast cancer, and my late dad was a policeman with the Gloucestershire constabulary. The public service that ran through their veins, runs through mine.

I went to secondary school in Gloucester and studied History and Politics at the University of Oxford. I trained to be a secondary school history teacher before moving to work in politics.

I have spent the bulk of my career working at the centre of Government in departments that matter enormously to our corner of Somerset like Education, Communities and Local Government and Culture, Media & Sport, which leads on tourism, and No10 Downing Street.

As a result, I know how to get things done and have enormous experience in areas that matter to the communities I hope to represent. I understand how to navigate the confusing and bureaucratic worlds of Parliament and Government and I want to use these skills to deliver positive change for the people and communities of Wells and the Mendip Hills.

"I'm not going to pretend to be local. I was selected on 2nd June and ever since I've been staying locally – in Wells and then in Winscombe – and spent every day getting around to as many places in the constituency as possible, to speak to as many people as possible. That is exactly the kind of MP I will be – active, engaged and present in the constituency and I look forward to making this beautiful constituency my home as a wonderful place to raise my family."

Craig Clarke - Independent:

"I grew up in Cheddar, attending all three schools. I have worked in the Gorge, all seven pubs, the Petrol Station and the Indian so I am well known in Cheddar. For the last eight years, I have lived in Winscombe, working at the Co-op (including throughout Covid) so I am well known there also. I am 51 years old and this is my lucky third General Election.

"My connection to Wells is strong. Twenty-five years ago I spent two stays of one week each at St Andrews ward, Glastonbury Road, Wells, to treat the psychological side effects of an anti-malarial drug Lariam I took whilst in Kenya. Therefore Wells has a special place in my heart as its beautiful walks to the Cathedral, Bishops Palace, and the cricket ground gave me the much-needed time to rest, recuperate, and become well again. I am truly grateful to all the staff there and in the NHS who have helped me when, to be honest, I thought all was lost."

Helen Hims - Reform UK:

"I was born and grew up in Kent, and spent my early adult life in Sussex working for the NHS and the airline industry at Gatwick. I've been living in the lovely village of Shipham for thirty years where my husband and I raised our large family and run a busy local business.

My dad was a CofE clergyman (of the traditional Anglo-Catholic variety) and my faith continues to be very important to me. In my spare time, I enjoy walking in the beautiful Mendip Hills, gardening, traveling, and spoiling my granddaughter and cats.

I've been active in politics since 2012, and stood in Wells constituency as the Parliamentary Candidate for UKIP in 2015 (where we secured 3rd place).

In 2016 during the EU referendum, I acted as Somerset group leader for both Leave.EU and Vote Leave, and in 2019 I took on the role of SW Regional Manager for The Brexit Party (later Reform UK) helping to secure our victory in the European elections."

Abi McGuire - Independent:

"I live with my husband and our two teenage daughters next door to my parents. My sister, who has Down's Syndrome, lives in an annexe on our property. Our children attend the local secondary school.

I am from Somerset and have lived in Shepton Mallet for 15 years. I have been a police officer and then worked in housing and homelessness in Wells. I also worked at a special educational needs school near Shepton. I then left to take up a post as a Dignity and Respect investigator at the University of Bath. I resigned employment in October 2023 to campaign for the election full time. I have extensive networks in both Wells and Shepton Mallet.

I continue to be an elected independent councillor on Shepton Mallet Town Council. Collectively we intentionally removed destructive and polarising party politics. We now respectfully debate and reach decisions for the benefit of our community."

Tessa Munt - Liberal Democrat:

"I love our part of the West Country. Whilst we face challenges in our area, I believe we have something really special here. My family moved to Wells in 1969. As an adult, I worked in other parts of the country, returning in 2001 to Yarrow (near Mark) with my children – I wanted them to grow up here as part of our community and make friends at the local schools. Home is now the village of Wedmore with my long-term partner, David, a conservation farmer.

I had 31 years at work – in hospitality, as a teacher, a lecturer, a manager in Social Services, and working with tenants whilst in legal firms, before going into politics. Over three decades, I had a parallel volunteer career – Counselling with Childline, working with the Environmental Investigation Agency, chairing a Domestic Violence Forum amongst many projects. I juggled family and caring responsibilities throughout my career, and had to watch how every penny was spent.

In 2003 I was selected as the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for the 'Wells' constituency, which covered a wide area, including Wells, Shepton Mallet, and the nearby villages. For over 20 years I've campaigned on issues facing our local community, as well as holding 'drop-in' surgeries to help people with the problems they face, often when they haven't been able to get the help they need from their MP.

After seven years as the Lib Dem candidate, I was elected as the MP for Wells in 2010. While in Parliament I secured some really positive changes, from an extra £51 million for cancer care in the South West, to strengthening anti-corruption laws, to sharing my story and working across party lines to help secure the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. I helped over 27,000 local people with their problems during this time and held a record 704 'drop-in' surgeries. I know first-hand the multitude of issues we face here and I know how to make your voices heard in Parliament. Parliamentary statistics show well above average activity for the time I spent representing you, something I'm committed to doing again if elected.

In 2017, I ran to be a County Councillor because I couldn't bear to stand on the sidelines watching what the national and local Conservatives were doing to our community. Since 2015 Council budgets have been slashed and slashed again, while the costs facing councils have spiraled, made worse by the Government's complete failure to fix social care. I was re-elected as one of two Wells Councillors in 2022, this time as part of a Lib Dem run unitary council for Somerset. For the last two years, my colleagues and I have been trying to piece back together the mess that was left in local government in our area – but there's still a long way to go!

I believe people here deserve better from the Government, and I've never given up wanting to improve things. If you elect me, you'll have an MP who's truly local, cares deeply about our area and its people, has real experience of getting things done in Parliament, and who'll always be available if you need me."

Joe Joseph - Labour and Co-op:

"I'm a shepherd living in Glastonbury, but I also train Environment Agency staff alongside that. My first career was in the RAF where I was on operations during the Falklands conflict and in Iraq. I've also cared for autistic young adults and taught countryside management at Cannington College. I'm a parish councillor in St Cuthbert Out. The West Country is very much in the blood, going back several generations in Devon, Bristol, and Somerset."

Peter Welsh- Green Party

No response received.