Westmorland and Lonsdale candidates announce election strategy

Prime minister Rishi Sunak announced that there will be a General Election on July 4, starting a six-week long campaign period. 

Liberal Democrat Tim Farron is the incumbent MP, having held his position in a previously Conservative seat since 2005. 

The boundaries will also change in this election with the constituency extending north and including places such as Kirkby Stephen and Shap. 

Kirkby Lonsdale will become part of Morecambe and Lunesdale.

The candidates that will be fighting for the Westmorland and Lonsdale seat in Parliament  announced so far are:

Tim Farron, Liberal Democrats

Despite being in the seat for nearly two decades, Mr Farron said: "When I hear people talking about change that's at the government level. In the end I have got bags of energy. It's up to the electorate whether or not they want me."

Some of the top issues he raised were local access to healthcare, particularly cancer treatment, 'excessive' second home ownership, created affordable and social homes for locals and the environment. 

This week, he was pictured paddle boarding with his party leader Ed Davey in Windermere. They announced their commitment to tackling the sewage crisis by reforming the water companies and the regulators.  

Matty Jackman, Conservatives

28-year-old Mr Jackman is a captain in the army reserves and previously had experience in central Government. He announced his support for proposals to instate National Service if a Conservative government is given the mandate in July. 

He said the priorities are to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists and stop the boats. 

“My love for this place and its people has led me to serve both my local community and my country," he said. 

James Townley, Reform UK 

Reform wants to challenge the Tories as the party of the right. Mr Townley said: "Reform has the real conservative values now." 

Asked what issues he would tackle if he was MP, Mr Townley raised the sewage crisis, said he would introduce a tourist levy for visitors to the Lake District as he said that the burden for infrastructure costs currently fall on the locals, and he wanted to revitalise the centre of Bowness by 'toning down the high street frontages' and fixing some of the 'unkempt' buildings. 

He also wanted to support those looking to set up businesses in Cumbria. 

Pippa Smith, Labour

Ms Smith has a background in the charity sector and leads a grant-making foundation in the area. 

She said: "Working and volunteering in the community has shown me the impact of the cost of living crisis and the decline of our public services. I know how challenging life can be in a rural community: our health system is at breaking point, our transport network is fragile and opportunities for young people are scarce." 

Her campaign priorities are the cost of living, the environment, housing and health. 

Phil Clayton, Green

Mr Clayton calls the climate emergency 'the biggest threat we face' and said that his party is the only one committed to creating a carbon-free economy. 

He has worked a consultant to large organisations, including the NHS, Department of Energy and Lloyds Bank.

Mr Clayton said he was 'passionately committed to the Green Party's wider agenda of equality and social justice.' 

Also standing in the seat are Wendy Long from the Social Democratic Party and Garry Cattle Boon from the Workers Party of Britain. 

The Social Democratic Party describes itself as a 'patriotic, economically left-leaning and culturally traditional political party.'  

The Workers Party of Britain jumped into the political limelight this year when George Galloway won a by-election in Rochdale. 

It is a socialist party that is hoping to take Labour's spot as the party of the left.