The Liberal Democrats have launched their election manifesto for the new Westmorland and Furness Council.
The new council will take over the existing district councils in Eden, South Lakeland and Barrow, as well as the county council.
The number one priority for Liberal Democrats in the manifesto, the party says, is making sure that local residents have a much bigger say in how local services are run, including devolving power, decision making and finances to local areas.
On the environment, they say they want to build on the work that the existing Lib Dem councils have done, including green home grants to help householders pay for carbon saving measures, the planting of thousands of trees, and investment in safer footpaths and cycle tracks.
On housing, Liberal Democrats say they want to help people be able to afford to stay in the community they grew up in, by increasing the number of new affordable homes and lobbying the Government to limit the number of second homes.
On health, Liberal Democrats say they want to see serious improvements in the quality of mental health services, with cuts to waiting lists and better treatment, especially for younger people. With social care being one of the biggest responsibilities of the new council, the Lib Dems say they are determined to tackle the crisis in social care and make sure that local residents get access to the care and services they need.
Chair of the Westmorland, Furness and Eden Liberal Democrats, Giles Archibald said: “Our manifesto is a plan for the future and for our children.
“We want to work with local schools to give them the best start in life.
“We want to provide the skills and the training so that they are prepared for the green jobs of tomorrow.
“And we want to build the affordable homes so that they can stay here and raise a family.”
Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron said: “This is an ambitious plan to make our local communities even better places to live and work.
“Rather than having a big, remote council, Liberal Democrats’ top priority will be making sure that power lies closer to you than ever before.
“Elections do change things, and you have the power to decide who will be in charge of running our local services for the next five years.
“So do make sure you vote for your local Lib Dem candidate on May 5.”
The manifesto can be read here.
The full list of candidates standing in the election for the Westmorland and Furness Council can be found below:
Key
- C: Conservative
- G: Green
- I: Independent
- L: Labour
- LD: Liberal Democrats
Alston & Fellside
- Andy Baker LD
- Michael Richard Beveridge C
- Michael Timothy Hanley L
- Ian Lindley L
- Dale Andrew Normington C
- Mary Robinson I
- Richard Raymond William Sanderson LD
Appleby & Brough
- Harry Berkeley C
- Andy Connell LD
- Gareth Hayes I
- William Patterson I
- Graham Simpkins LD
- Colin Smith C
Bowness & Lyth
- Steve Bavin LD
- Jim Bland C
- Simon Philip Clayton G
Burton & Holme
- Simon Joseph Blunden G
- Tom Harvey C
- Vicky Hughes LD
- Coniston & Hawkshead
- Michael Ian Hoad C
- Paul Andrew Martin L
- Suzanne Mary Pender LD
- Mark Richard Poole G
Dalton north
- Stephen John Coleman LD
- Daniel Christopher Edwards C
- Robert Douglas Elliot L
- Rachael Hogg LD
- Ben Shirley C
Dalton south
- Peter Graham Baker LD
- Tony Callister L
- Des English C
- Martin David McLeavy I
- Barbara Lilian Miller LD
- Steve Nott L
- Sam Ronson C
- Dave Taylor I
Eamont & Shap
- Neil Hughes LD
- Tom Lowther C
Eden & Lyvennet Vale
- Lorna Ann Baker LD
- Paula Breen C
- Neil McCall LD
- Mike Tonkin I
- David Whipp C
Grange & Cartmel
- Mandy Barnett G
- Jenny Boak LD
- Lilian El-Doufani Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
- Pete Endsor LD
- Fiona Marguerite Hanlon I
- Tor McLaren C
- Luke Stanley Benjamin Mossbarnett G
- Sue Sanderson LD
- James Townsley C
- David Edward Wilson C
- Paul Anthony Woods G
Greystoke & Ullswater
- Judith Margaret Derbyshire LD
- Debbie Wicks C
Hawcoat & Newbarns
- David Robert Cassidy L
- Sheila Eccles LD
- Denise Hazel Edwards I
- Les Hall C
- Christine Pearl Herbert LD
- Mike Leach L
- Wendy Ada McClure I
- David Ian Bennett Opie LD
- Niyall Allister Phillips C
- Hayley Louise Preston L
- Steven Lindsay Pryer I
- Roy Worthington C
Hesket & Lazonby
- Colin Atkinson C
- Roger Burgin LD
- Hilary Frances Carrick C
- David Evans LD
- Belinda Lucy Lloyd G
- Elaine Mary Martin I
- David Ryland I
High Furness
- Matt Brereton C
- Stephen Francis Carter L
- Peter Alan Howlett G
- Ian Charles Wharton LD
Kendal Castle
- Janet Mary Antrobus G
- Nigel Byrom C
- Penny Henderson L
- Eammon Matthew Hennessy LD
- Helen Ngaire Ladhams LD
- Claire Wickham G
- David Lewis Williams C
Kendal Highgate
- Trevor Batchelor Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
- Margaret Bond C
- Phil Dixon LD
- Oliver Gill L
- Rosie Naish G
- Mike Nicholson C
- Ian Rodham G
- Matt Severn LD
Kendal Nether
- Raymond Bower C
- Paul Michael Braithwaite L
- Paul John Casson Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
- Jonathan Cornthwaite LD
- Shirley Amelia Evans LD
- Daniel Alexander Rayson G
- Lyndsay Elizabeth Slater C
- Liz Wood G
Kendal South
- Jonathan Richard Brook LD
- Elsa Fuster G
- Luke Ivan Gudgeon C
- Doug Rathbone LD
- Lois Katharine Sparling L
- Phil Whiting G
- Sheila Ann Worthington C
Kendal Strickland and Fell
- Giles Charles Archibald LD
- Irene Asbury C
- Virginia Elizabeth Branney L
- Laura Miller G
- Martin Powell-Davies Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
- Jacqueline Scott C
- Peter Carlyle Thornton LD
- Graham Jeffrey Vincent G
Kent Estuary
- Jill Abel G
- Rupert James Audland LD
- Helen Elizabeth Chaffey LD
- Margaret Elizabeth Handley C
- Peter Smilie C
Kirkby Stephen & Tebay
- Ray Briggs C
- Phil Dew C
- Sandy Lancaster I
- John Stephen Murray LD
- Adrian Harvey Martin Waite LD
Levens & Crooklands
- Janet Mary Battye LD
- Kevin Ronald Holmes C
- Hilary Margaret Pickup G
Low Furness
- Ben Thomas Cooper C
- Eirik Raymond Haugsbak Hunt L
- Paul Alan Rigg G
- Janet Willis LD
Old Barrow & Hindpool
- Anne Bispham C
- Anne Burns L
- Adam Grant Campbell LD
- Piya Das LD
- Gill Gardiner LD
- Kevin Robert Hamilton L
- Brenda Joyce Lauderdale C
- Stephen Raymond Pickthall LD
- Margaret Ann Thomson L
Ormsgill & Parkside
- Derek Brook L
- Elaine Burley C
- Ann Denise English C
- Bill McEwan L
- Beverly Ann Morgan L
- Jayne Marie Richardson LD
- Phil Walker LD
- Alasdair Wilkinson-Marsh LD
- Emma Louise Wylie C
Penrith north
- Patricia Ann Bell LD
- Peter Devine I
- Harry Fearon C
- Helen Jane Fearon C
- Scott Jackson I
- Ali Ross G first choice candidate
- Mark Brian Rudhall LD
- Wade Tidbuy G second choice candidate
Penrith south
- Gillian Elizabeth Barnes C
- Margaret Clark I
- Mike Eyles LD
- Richard Kevin O’Brien G
- Lee Quinn I
- Virginia Christine Taylor LD
- Matt Vickers C
Risedale & Roosecote
- Michael Wilson Barwise LD
- Trevor Alan Biggins L
- Andy Coles L
- Derek Gawne C
- Ronnie Haddow C
- Jane Amelia Murphy L
- Lynda Lea Shaw C
- Jade Sullivan LD
- Heather Throughton LD
Sedbergh & Kirkby Lonsdale
- Pat Bell C
- Tony Gray G
- Hazel Margaret Hodgson LD
- Kevin John Lancaster C
- Ian David Mitchell LD
Ulverston
- Andrew Clifford Butcher C
- Jackie Drake L
- Judy Filmore G lead candidate
- Bob Gerrry G
- Charles Edward Howarth LD
- Andrew Hudson LD
- Helen Irving C
- Rob O’Hara G
- Amanda Jane Rigg C
- Dave Rushton LD
- Michelle Scrogham L
- Mark Wilson L
Upper Kent
- Deborah Huck C
- Ali Jama LD
- Fran Richardson G
Walney Island
- Therese Mary Assouad L
- Frank Cassidy L
- Steven Fletcher I
- Terri-Ann Gibney C
- Chris Hogg LD
- Anita Gwendoline Husband L
- Tina Perkins LD
- Paul Allen Rose C
- Steve Sharpe C
- Paul Martin Trollope LD
Windermere & Ambleside
- Will Clark LD
- Paula Marie Cross C
- Andrew Guy Jarvis LD
- Dyan Jones LD
- Cath Musetti C
- Jolyon Roland Thornhill C
- Kate Threadgold
