THE Lib Dems parliamentary candidate for the Whitehaven and Workington constituency seat is calling for an 'immediate ceasefire in Gaza' as conflict continues to engulf the Middle East. 

Cumberland councillor Chris Wills, who was selected for his candidacy in December last year, said: "I'm calling on all the Whitehaven and Workington Parliamentary candidates to support my call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the release of the Israeli hostages, limited release of Palestinians in Israeli jails - and an internationally brokered start of negotiations for a Palestinian state.

"The Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, placed a Palestinian state on the Tory agenda. Liberal Democrats have long believed that Palestinian people should have their own recognised country. Sir Keir Starmer has not gone this far.

"We need to bring some good from this diabolical conflict. The western powers must channel Israel and Hamas, and all the relevant actors, into a route which ushers the creation of a proper nation, whilst Israel is guaranteed safety.

"I urge all the candidates to rally around this objective," he said.