Wells council tax mystery surrounding Tessa Munt deepens

Concerns involving Wells’ new MP Tessa Munt and possible incongruencies surrounding council tax discounts and the residential status of male friends linked to her property, were heightened this weekend when a third gentleman admitted that Sedgemoor District Council had questioned him in relation to their investigation.

Investigations are underway to discern whether Mrs Munt, who is separated from her husband, accepted £200 per month as rent from Dr John Laband during the same period as records at Sedgemoor indicate she was receiving a single person’s rebate of 25%.

They are also reviewing records relating to another period in 2008 when BBC radio presenter Andy Kershaw was resident at the home and where he was registered to vote.

The third male friend to become involved in the investigation is David Hughes, who was media advisor to the McCann family following the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine, and admitted staying with Mrs Munt while she was claiming a single person’s discount.

He said “I would often support Tessa with her campaign on my way through to visit them. I am an itinerant person, and divide my time between Somerset and London.”

Tessa Munt said she had offered Dr Laband a temporary respite from sleeping on his garage floor while his wife filed for divorce. She also maintains that Mr Kewshaw had visited her and left his dog with er for a period of 8 weeks while he, himself stayed with other friends. 

A liberal Democrat spokesman added that none of these gentlemen friends were staying permanently with Mrs Munt.

A Wells resident commented that perhaps Mr Heathcoat-Amory should not have left the constituency with the speed he did, had he lingered and remained part of the community from choice, should a by-election ensue, a re-election for him would have been almost certain.

What do you make of this situation surrounding Tessa Munt and the Wells constituency? Storm in a teacup or damning blow?