A BRIDGWATER man is running as the “new and youngest” prospective MP for the town in the upcoming general election.

Pele Barnes, owner of small business Gouda Karma, has lived and worked in Bridgwater and Burnham-on-Sea for his entire life.

His vision, if he is elected, includes reopening high streets with low rents for small businesses and ending all LGBTQ+ conversion therapy.

The candidate, who represents his Somerset Unionist Party, said: “We need empty or abandoned shops on our high streets to be purchased by government and rented out at very low affordable values to get small businesses on their feet, new ones set up, build up the economy from the local core level and it will make tourism flourish.

"Somerset needs a candidate who is not bound to London, corruption and shareholders.

"I am a new face and person right for the job to represent the constituency. I want to have the seat back to its market roots and small business opportunities for all."

He pledged his commitment to "putting people before parties and your interests first".

Mr Barnes says his party will be "the first ever to focus on people and a focus on coalition government", meaning no one party will have all the power and there will be equal voices in government.

He said: "Community, fairness, equality, opportunity: that’s what I, Pele Barnes, will be standing up for in Bridgwater and Burnham-on-Sea.

"Unlike every other candidate, I know what its like to struggle under burdens of low wages and bills to pay, I will be a true local representative coming to visit people and taking their voices to Parliament.”

Among his other policies are plans to reform the House of Lords, end high prices in supermarkets, prioritise the environment and animal rights and decommission the nuclear weapon programme.

Mr Barnes is standing against Sir Ashley Fox (Conservative), Claire Sully (Liberal Democrats) and Leigh Redman (Labour).