Council elections: Lib Dems offer strong, liberal alternative for Plymouth
Liberal Democrat candidates standing at the city council elections on Thursday 5 May are offering voters a strong, liberal alternative to the two old parties that have dominated Plymouth politics for far too long.
The party is standing in more parts of the city than at any time since 2010, whilst the number of candidates put up by the Greens and UKIP has slumped.
Chair of the Plymouth Liberal Democrats, Hugh Janes, said, "This city, which has so much potential, needs a strong, liberal voice. More needs to be done to harness the opportunities that come from our waterfront position. We must, for example, be at the cutting edge of the industries of the future, particularly renewable energy like tidal power.
"The Conservative Government in London has harsh plans to axe the money that goes to councils. Only if we get clever and start to work more with neighbouring councils to deliver more services jointly can we hope to drive down costs so we can protect the services on which we all depend.
"The 400th anniversary in 2020 of the sailing of the Mayflower to America is a one-off opportunity to reboot this city and particularly its image across the world. This has to be got right. Done the right way we can use this moment to create a legacy of new businesses and new entrepreneurs attracted to the city, creating jobs.
"But we can only do any of this if we get new faces and fresh ideas onto the council. It's not something we can leave to the same people who have been hanging around the council chamber for far too long.
"The tight grip that the tired old parties have on Plymouth City Council must be broken. It has failed the people of this city who deserve so much better. It's time for change."
The Liberal Democrats standing for election to Plymouth City Council on Thursday 5 May are:
- Budshead ward - Roger Mitchell
- Compton ward - Steven Guy
- Devonport ward - Fleur Ball
- Efford & Lipson ward - Rafiqul Haque
- Eggbuckland ward - Richard Simpson
- Ham ward - Matthew Radmore
- Honicknowle ward - Dylan Morris
- Moor View ward - Richard Bray
- Peverell ward - Charlotte Radmore
- Plympton Erle ward - Christianne Pollock
- Plymstock Dunstone ward - Sima Davarian
- Plymstock Radford ward - Jeffrey Hall
- St Budeaux ward - Stephen Luscombe
- St Peter & the Waterfront ward - Hugh Janes
- Southway ward - Storm Norman
- Stoke ward - Helen Guy
- Sutton & Mount Gould ward - Peter York
To register to vote or to find out more information about the elections on Thursday 5 May, visit the council's website HERE.