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Jailed councillor may not need to stand down
Somerset Guardian
|December 18, 2025
A jailed Somerset councillor may not need to stand down if a planned appeal is taken forward.
Michael Dunk
Michael Dunk was one of two Green Party councillors elected to represent the Frome West division at the local elections in May 2022.
Mr Dunk (known affectionately as 'Mick') was among numerous Just Stop Oil activists who climbed gantries on the M25 on November 8, 2022 to demand an end to new fossil fuel projects.
Mr Dunk will spend Christmas in prison after being sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, December 5 to 26 months' imprisonment and ordered to pay £4,380 in costs with a Crowdfunder (www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/climate-change-urgent-action-supporting-climate-i) set up to pay these costs managing to raise more than £7,000.
Councillor Martin Dimery (who represents the same division) has now confirmed that Mr Dunk may not need to immediately vacate his seat, as he explores the possibility of appealing his conviction.
This story is from the December 18, 2025 edition of Somerset Guardian.
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