- Merriman is a Managing Director and lawyer, and also works in a hobby farming venture. He is also a Wealden District Councillor and the Chairman of Wealden Association. Married with three daughters, he enjoys “cooking for party fundraisers and friends, growing fruit, vegetables and flowers for his family and their bee hives and campaigning (by work and deed) for real ale and the pubs who serve it”. Since Wealden is a neighbour constituency to Bexhill and Battle, and some of Wealden District Council’s wards are located in the latter, Merriman was evidently very much a local candidate. He contested North-East Derbyshire at the last election.
Merriman won on the second ballot. The runner-up was Jeremy Quin. Suella Fernandes was third and James Cleverley fourth.
Congratulations to Merriman and commiserations to the other candidates.