THE prospective Labour candidate for Westmorland and Lonsdale Pippa Smith has launched her campaign, blaming the Conservatives for the state of the NHS, sewage and the cost of living crisis. 

The local Labour party launched its campaign at an outdoor meeting in Kendal last weekend, with all the political candidates ramping up their messaging ahead of the General Election on July 4. 

“After 14 years of Tory government, nothing works. The NHS is on its knees. Our lakes and rivers are full of sewage. The cost of living crisis continues," she said. 

"A vote for Labour here sends a message that we want things to change. It says that we want a voice in the national conversation; that we don’t want Westmorland and Lonsdale to be forgotten.”

Ms Smith told this publication that waiting lists in the NHS are 'out of control.' She said: "Patients are being sent as far as Chorley and Blackpool for treatment and 83 per cent of dentists in Westmorland and Lonsdale are not accepting new patients." 

She said that Labour has a plan to deliver two million extra appointments to reduce waiting lists. 

Ms Smith said that voters have told her that they want to see 'urgent action' on climate change. She said that Labour would stop bonuses going to the bosses of water companies if their company has harmed the environment. 

Ms Smith also raised Labour's pledge to build 1.5 million new homes, saying 'I'll be pushing for those to be genuinely affordable homes for local people.' 

The Conservative candidate Matty Jackman previously said: "The choice is clear: stick with the plan for a safer, more secure and prosperous future with Rishi Sunak or go back to square one with Keir Starmer and the same old Labour." 

He praised the National Service and an extension of a tax break for employers of veterans announcements by the Conservatives.

The Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency represents some of the busiest parts of the Lake District: Windermere, Ambleside, Hawkshead, Coniston, Patterdale and Pooley Bridge. 

Other major towns in the patch include Kendal, Grange, Kirkby Stephen and Appleby. Sizeable boundary changes this year mean that Sedbergh, Kirkby Lonsdale and Milnthorpe will become part of the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency, which until the election announcement was controlled by Conservative David Morris.

The patch will extend much further north than previously, going all the way to the outskirts of Penrith and including Greystoke and Mungrisdale.

Other candidates contesting the seat are the incumbent Liberal Democrat Tim Farron, Reform's James Townley, the Green Party's Phil Clayton, Wendy Long from the Social Democratic Party and Garry Cattle Boon from the Workers Party of Britain.