Tessa Munt
Encyclopedia
Tessa Jane Munt is a British
Liberal Democrat
politician
. She is the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Wells
in Somerset
.
in the 2001 General Election
, when she came third with 24.9% of the votes. She also stood for Ipswich
at the 2001 Ipswich by-election
,
coming third with 22.4% of the vote.
After moving to Somerset
, she stood for Wells
in the 2005 General Election
, coming second to incumbent MP David Heathcoat-Amory
with 37.8% of the vote. Munt won the Wells seat in the 2010 General Election with a majority of 800 over Heathcoat-Amory, who admitted that his involvement in the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal
played a part in his defeat.
Munt is a party whip in the House of Commons, although she threatened to resign from the post if the Trident nuclear missile system was renewed.
In July 2010, newspapers revealed details of an investigation by Sedgemoor
District Council into her claims of council tax
single person discount while having more than one other adult male registered to vote at her home, including a local GP
, the broadcaster Andy Kershaw
and the media advisor for the family of Madeleine McCann.
On 6 September 2010, Sedgemoor District Council said that there were now no criminal proceedings regarding to the single person discount on Council Tax and Munt was thus cleared of any wrongdoing, though it then became apparent that she had paid the disputed amount to Sedgemoor
District Council.
, Munt is the eldest of four children. Initially convent educated, she attended a girls' grammar school before finishing her education at an independent school and college.
Munt, who is vegetarian,
lives in Mark
on the Somerset Levels
with her two children from her marriage to Martin Munt from whom she is separated. She is a governor of Hugh Sexey Middle School in Blackford
and is a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. She is the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Wells
Wells (UK Parliament constituency)
Wells is a county constituency centred on the city of Wells in Somerset. It elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
.
Political career
Munt was the candidate for South SuffolkSouth Suffolk (UK Parliament constituency)
South Suffolk is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundary review:...
in the 2001 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
, when she came third with 24.9% of the votes. She also stood for Ipswich
Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency)
Ipswich is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
at the 2001 Ipswich by-election
Ipswich by-election, 2001
The member of Parliament for Ipswich in Suffolk, Jamie Cann, of the Labour Party died on 15 October 2001.The by-election to fill his seat was held on 22 November that year, and was the first of six by-elections which took place during the 2001-2005 parliament....
,
coming third with 22.4% of the vote.
After moving to Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, she stood for Wells
Wells (UK Parliament constituency)
Wells is a county constituency centred on the city of Wells in Somerset. It elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system...
in the 2005 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
, coming second to incumbent MP David Heathcoat-Amory
David Heathcoat-Amory
David Philip Heathcoat-Amory is a British politician, accountant and farmer. He was the Conservative Member of Parliament for Wells from 1983 until he lost his seat in the 2010 general election.-Education and professional life:...
with 37.8% of the vote. Munt won the Wells seat in the 2010 General Election with a majority of 800 over Heathcoat-Amory, who admitted that his involvement in the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal
United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal
The United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal was a major political scandal triggered by the leak and subsequent publication by the Telegraph Group in 2009 of expense claims made by members of the United Kingdom Parliament over several years...
played a part in his defeat.
Munt is a party whip in the House of Commons, although she threatened to resign from the post if the Trident nuclear missile system was renewed.
In July 2010, newspapers revealed details of an investigation by Sedgemoor
Sedgemoor
Sedgemoor is a low lying area of land in Somerset, England. It lies close to sea level south of the Polden Hills, historically largely marsh . The eastern part is known as King's Sedgemoor, and the western part West Sedgemoor. Sedgemoor is part of the area now known as the Somerset Levels...
District Council into her claims of council tax
Council tax
Council Tax is the system of local taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each country. It was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as a successor to the unpopular Community Charge...
single person discount while having more than one other adult male registered to vote at her home, including a local GP
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
, the broadcaster Andy Kershaw
Andy Kershaw
Andy Kershaw is a British broadcaster, known for his interest in world music.His shows feature a mix of country, blues, reggae, folk music, spoken word performance from the likes of Ivor Cutler, and other music from around the world.- Early Life :Kershaw and his sister, fellow broadcaster Liz...
and the media advisor for the family of Madeleine McCann.
On 6 September 2010, Sedgemoor District Council said that there were now no criminal proceedings regarding to the single person discount on Council Tax and Munt was thus cleared of any wrongdoing, though it then became apparent that she had paid the disputed amount to Sedgemoor
Sedgemoor
Sedgemoor is a low lying area of land in Somerset, England. It lies close to sea level south of the Polden Hills, historically largely marsh . The eastern part is known as King's Sedgemoor, and the western part West Sedgemoor. Sedgemoor is part of the area now known as the Somerset Levels...
District Council.
Personal life
Born in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, Munt is the eldest of four children. Initially convent educated, she attended a girls' grammar school before finishing her education at an independent school and college.
Munt, who is vegetarian,
lives in Mark
Mark, Somerset
Mark is a village and civil parish which lies approximately from Bridgwater, from Axbridge, and from Highbridge in the Sedgemoor district of the county of Somerset, England...
on the Somerset Levels
Somerset Levels
The Somerset Levels, or the Somerset Levels and Moors as they are less commonly but more correctly known, is a sparsely populated coastal plain and wetland area of central Somerset, South West England, between the Quantock and Mendip Hills...
with her two children from her marriage to Martin Munt from whom she is separated. She is a governor of Hugh Sexey Middle School in Blackford
Blackford, Somerset
Blackford is a village in Somerset, England, situated beside the A303 road, south west of Wincanton in the South Somerset district. There are two other places called Blackford in Somerset — one is a village near Wedmore, the other a tiny hamlet between Porlock and Minehead.It is part of the...
and is a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is an anti-nuclear organisation that advocates unilateral nuclear disarmament by the United Kingdom, international nuclear disarmament and tighter international arms regulation through agreements such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty...
.
External links
- Tessa Munt profile at Wells Liberal Democrats