Liberal Democrats launch local election manifesto saying 'Cornwall comes first'

Cornwall's Liberal Democrats have launched their local election manifesto saying they want to protect the vulnerable, tackle climate emergency and "deliver prosperity for all".

The party has been running Cornwall Council as part of a coalition with Independent councillors since the last election in 2017.

In their 26-page manifesto the party highlights what it has done since being in control at County Hall whilst also setting out its plans for the future.

The manifesto says that the party is "standing up for Cornwall" and says that the Conservatives have "slashed" Cornwall's core government funding by half since 2015.

There is a repeated message of "Cornwall comes first" running through the manifesto which also highlights the Government's housing targets.

It states:

"We must stop the Conservatives treating Cornwall like a developers' paradise. We need breathing space. Yes to homes which meet local need. No to concreting over Cornwall."

Setting out the Liberal Democrats' 2021 election promises it lists:

"Protecting the vulnerable – people have always been more important than money in Cornwall. We will continue to protect the adult social care budget because we believe the mark of a civilised society is how we treat the most vulnerable amongst us.

"Tackling the climate emergency – Liberal Democrat led Cornwall Council declared a climate emergency in January 2019 and since then we have created one of the most ambitious climate change action plans in the country. Our target of achieving zero net carbon for Cornwall by 2030 is a full 20 years ahead of the government's target of 2050. We will continue to pursue the tackling of climate change as one of our top priorities because local solutions work.

"Delivering Prosperity for all – We will ensure that Cornwall comes out of the Covid-19 pandemic stronger by building homes for Cornish residents, investing in roads and rail, creating apprenticeships, supporting business, and providing training for the Cornish workforce."

Edwina Hannaford, Cornwall Council Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said:

"Since leading Cornwall Council in partnership with Independents since 2017, we have delivered on our promises.

"Cornwall is the top council in the country for providing affordable homes. In 2017 we Liberal Democrats promised to provide a thousand new homes for Cornwall. That figure has now been achieved and we have moved beyond it, becoming the top council in the country for providing affordable homes, allowing more Cornish people to live and work in the place they love.

"We promised that Cornwall Council employees, including key workers, would be moved onto the Foundation Living Wage – we are pleased to say that not only has that promise been achieved, but we also now require Cornwall Council contractors to do the same.

"Our third promise was to protect the social care budget which supports some of Cornwall's most vulnerable children and adults. Not only have we achieved this, but we have increased the social care budget year on year, every year.

"It was the Lib Dems who declared the climate emergency in 2019. We have been acknowledged nationally by scientists, having reviewed the Climate Action Plans of most Local Authorities in the UK, ours was identified as one of the best and most ambitious that we have seen.

"We will continue to stand up for Cornwall."

Andrew George, chair of Cornwall Liberal Democrats, who is standing as a candidate for Cornwall Council said:

"The Conservatives have slashed Cornwall's core Government funding in half since 2015. Many Councils have struggled. Some, like Tory-run Northants, have been declared bankrupt. But Cornwall's Lib Dem and Independent coalition has remained resilient. Successfully defending and improving services.

"The Liberal Democrats will continue to put Cornwall before party – to work with those who put Cornwall's best interests first and stand up for Cornwall, making sure Cornwall's voice is heard, not taken for granted."

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