The Liberal Democrats have announced John Studholme as their prospective Parliamentary candidate for the Copeland constituency with a potential General Election looming.

Mr Studholme, a retired charter surveyor and former land agent and estate agent, has been an active Liberal Democrat campaigner for 40 years, and in that time has served as Mayor of Kendal and member and chair of South Lakeland Council. He was also a candidate for the European Election earlier this year.

He is a passionate pro-European and has lived in Cumbria for almost all his life.

Mr Studholme said: “I am essentially a believer in free trade, and the value of competition. But equally important is the need for the state to intervene and invest to protect essential services such as education, health, defence, social security, law and order, public transport and housing.

“I want to see progressive taxes, helping to reform the unfair distribution of wealth and pursuing tax evasion by some multinational companies. Above all, we have to play our proper full part within the EU. This will build our economic prosperity and is by far the best way of tackling the massive challenge of climate change.”

West Cumbria chair Roger Putnam has expressed delight that John Studholme will be the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Copeland.

He added: “John reflects the values of Liberal Democracy, as a believer in free trade and the value of competition, but equally strongly the need for the state to intervene to safeguard essential public services. He will be an outstanding candidate.”