TWO Conservative West Somerset leaders have denied that there is any feud between them, despite an edited photograph emerging showing one of them removed from the original.

Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger and West Somerset Council Leader Tim Taylor had their photograph taken when they both attended a meeting about the Somerset Rivers Authority in London on Monday.

But Somerset Labour has since published a photograph of Cllr Tim Taylor edited out of the photo by Mr Liddell-Grainger, claiming that there is a “bitter feud” between the pair.

Somerset County Gazette: THE original photograph taken at the meeting features Cllr Tim Taylor. THE original photograph taken at the meeting features Cllr Tim Taylor.
THE original photograph taken at the meeting on Monday features Cllr Tim Taylor.

Mr Liddell-Grainger confirmed to the County Gazette that he was aware of the edited photograph but denied that there was any bad blood between himself and Cllr Tim Taylor.

He said: “It was a joke by my researcher and I will do everything I can to change it.

“No there isn’t a feud between Tim Taylor and myself.”

When The County Gazette informed Cllr Tim Taylor about the edited photograph, he denied that there is a feud between Mr Liddell-Grainger and himself.

He said: “I definitely attended the meeting with Defra on Monday, representing West Somerset Council

“West Somerset Council have never criticised Ian Liddell-Grainger.

“We have never criticised Ian Liddell-Grainger and have only ever responded to issues and comments that he has made to clarify the facts.

“There is certainly not a feud between us, but I have tried to take these things up within the Conservative circles.”