I attended Lancaster University and I have lived in Lancaster for 20 years – now living in Brookhouse.  I am married with one son at Lancaster Royal Grammar School. I teach at Morecambe Community High School.

I am not a career politician. I joined the Lib Dems because I was fed up with the way that Labour and the Conservatives were treating our education system. I have been a local councillor for 7 years. During that time I have fought to protect local services. For example, setting up a community library in Caton after the County Council closed our library; chairing the task group to fight proposed Post Office closures; campaigning against the closure of Hornby High School and the Academy plans, supporting  the Storey Institute. I am currently the Leader of Lancaster City Council – having successfully led the Cabinet in a difficult time, delivered a balanced budget and set priorities for the future of this District. These include regeneration led by heritage, culture and energy and tackling climate change.  I am an experienced community champion who knows about the needs of the District now and is already making changes to improve our lives.

A vote for me is a vote to make Britain a fairer place. Lib Dems will create fair taxes, by making sure no one is taxed on their first £10,000. We will create a fair start for children with a pupil premium and end politician’s interference in schools with an Education Freedom Act;  fairer opportunities by breaking up the banks and creating jobs in a Green New Deal. We want fairer politics by making every vote count and by giving electors the chance to sack corrupt MPs.

Lib Dems are not afraid to be different. We refused to support the invasion of Iraq. Vince Cable warned about the dangers to our economy and has led the way on recommending the way out of the deficit in Government finances. This election is wide open. I believe I can be the next MP for Lancaster and if I am elected I will not be afraid to speak out for this area at Westminster.

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*** Crossposted here

Party Political Broadcast (13th April 2010) – Say goodbye to broken promises

Liberal Democrats on Lancaster City Council are refusing to take part in a Councillors Working Group looking at how Councillors’ expenses should be paid. The group was set up during the last council meeting (Wednesday April 14 2010) when a Labour proposal did not accept the recommendations of an independent remuneration panel.

The panel had invited evidence from all councillors on their responsibilities and workload. It is believed that only a handful responded to the request. The panel chair, Alan Mercer, made their recommendations in a report to the last Full Council meeting. The recommendations said that the payment of expenses should be reallocated away from funding party political posts and should instead be directed towards councillors who have increased levels of responsibility in the authority. However, the overwhelming majority of councillors rejected the Independent Panel’s recommendations and voted to set up their own working group.

Speaking during the debate, Liberal Democrat Group Leader spoke against the rejection of the Independent Remuneration Panel’s recommendations. He said

We have seen the problems caused in Westminster when politicians start deciding their own pay levels. It is wrong there and it is wrong for us to do the same. The council taxpayer should not be funding party political appointments like group leaders. We have an Independent Remuneration Panel and we should accept their recommendations.

However, councillors from Labour, Conservative and Green Parties voted to set up their own working group. This group will not be open to the public – essentially they will do their deal on their own behind closed doors and then bring it to the council to approve it.  The Lib Dem Group will have no part in such a process. We have already made it clear that we will not send representatives to the group. All councillors had a chance to make representations to the Independent Panel and it is ridiculous to set up their own group just because they do not like what was said.

Since the meeting the Chair of the Independent Panel, Alan Mercer, has resigned. In his letter he says, ‘I have no wish to waste my time on such a charade and herewith resign.’ Commenting Councillor Stuart Langhorn says ‘It is a dark day for transparency in local politics’

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Submitted by Stuart Langhorn to Lancaster Guardian for release – Thursday 22/04/2010

Download Minutes of the Full Council Meeting of April 14 2010 (PDF)

Local Green Party Councillor has criticised plans for a high-speed rail link for the North West. This is depsite it being a key part of the Green Party Manifesto in order to stop short haul flights. In a letter to Local Transport Today (Issue 543 : 16 April 2010) Cllr. John Whitelegg says

If there really are tens of billions of pounds to spare on transport in these straitened times projects that improve life for pedestrians, cyclists and users of local public transport are likely to command much wider electoral support.

Commenting Stuart Langhorn Lib Dem PPC for Lancaster and Fleetwood said:

It has been clear this week that we are over reliant on short haul flights. Improving the rail infrastructure for the UK is vital. In particular in will help to secure the economic future of this part of the North West and improve our connectivity to the rest of the country – It will be good for tourism on which so many local jobs rely. Lib Dems support investment in the railways as it will help to remove cars from the road and planes from our skies.  Lib Dem plans also extend to an infrastructure bank to make sure the funding gets in place for such projects – both locally and nationally.  I now question if the local Green Party truly supports improvements to our railways?

Join our debate night party

There are two more Party Leaders’ Debate nights scheduled.

Sky on 22nd April at 8pm focusing on Foreign Affairs,

BBC on 29th April at 8.30pm on the Economy.

Local party members will be watching the debates at the  Skerton Liberal Club and we would like to extend this invitation to local residents.  Sandwiches will be provided and the bar will be open for people to purchase drinks.

If you would like to attend, either leave a comment below or send a message using the contact form.

For those who want to follow the debate online the following twitter hastags will be in use #leadersdebate #gonick

Look forward to seeing you there.

Monday 19th April saw the first debate of the campaign. This was organised by Fleetwood Churches Together at the Marine Hall. Six of the seven candidates turned up. The BNP candidate, invited, but not attending. Commenting on this Stuart Langhorn said

“The BNP having nothing to offer the people of Fleetwood. This election is about how should Britain become a fairer place. The BNP’s policies will not do this.’

Questions ranged over a variety of topics. These included: the banking bailout, homosexuality, marriage, assisted suicide, how to make politics fair and how to provide more jobs in Fleetwood.

Stuart said

It was great to have the opportunity to debate the important issues of this election in Fleetwood. We have had a tremendous recpetion and are gaining lots of support in the town.

To vote in the General Election you must be registered to vote.  The deadline for voter registration is Tuesday 20 April 2010.  If you have not already done so you can register to vote online by visiting this website.

POSTAL VOTE

Voting by post is an easy and convenient way of voting if you are unable to get to the polling station on polling day – for any reason.

Applications to vote by post must also be received no later than 11 working days before Polling Day. With the General Election taking place on Thursday 6 May the deadline to apply for a postal vote, or to amend or cancel existing postal or proxy voting arrangements, will be 5pm on Tuesday 20 April.

All eligible electors have the right to organise to vote by post rather than attend their allocated Polling Station.

A postal vote can be sent to your home address or to any other address that you give. Postal votes can be sent overseas, but you need to consider whether there will be enough time to receive and return your ballot paper by election day.

Postal votes are usually sent out about a week before election day (the exact date will vary depending on your local Council), to give you time to complete it and send it back so that it arrives by close of poll (10pm on May 6th).

The Liberal Democrats have created a tool to make registering for a postal vote easy. Available online now at https://www.libdems.org.uk/vote_by_post.aspx all you need to do is:

- Complete all the fields marked with an asterisk (*)

- Print, sign and date the form generated

- Send the application form to the address provided on the form

Lib Dem long term solution denied

There have been several months of debate on the indoor market in Lancaster.

Why?  Because the indoor market is predicted to cost local tax payers up to £0.5 million per year, and costs are rising every year!

Problem

• The Council is currently tied into a 99 year lease and has no control over rents
• The market building suffers from low visitor numbers with many stalls empty
• Result – financial pressure on remaining traders and council tax payer

A long term solution had to be found. The Liberal Democrats have lead the council since May 2009 and wanted to sort this problem out to save local tax payers money.

A vote by Councillors took place on 31^st March to agree the best approach.

The result

Labour backed Green Councillors in keeping the market on two floors in the same building. They also voted to spend up to £150,000 on consultants to advise on additional building works required.

Liberal Democrats believe this means:

• No long term solution has been found;

• Council tax payers are faced with unknown costs to keep the indoor market open – with money going to a private sector property management company and consultants.  We believe this money would be better spent helping independent traders and regenerating Lancaster city centre;

• The Council must find an extra £500,000 of savings this year – that could mean CUTS to vital services because our Labour and Green Councillors voted to keep the market in the current building.

The Liberal Democrats are furious that this has happened. The council tax payers have been left to pay undisclosed sums of money to keep the market in its current building.

Stuart Langhorn said:

This is a real problem for council tax payers – the cost of the market is too high in the current building. We had an opportunity to find a better location for the market in Lancaster and to secure its long term viability, but this has been lost

Our approach

The Liberal Democrats proposed:

• Lease the building for another retailer to occupy – a proposal backed by independent retail experts but talked down by Greens and Labour;

• Relocate the existing traders within Lancaster city centre;

• Investigate alternative, cheaper sites for an indoor market.

Stuart Langhorn says

The great thing about Lancaster is that we have a good mix of independent retailers across the city centre which we must help to flourish

On 1st April voters in Lancaster’s John o Gaunt ward had the opportunity to vote in a by-election caused by the resignation of a sitting Labour Councillor.

The Liberal Democrats are now the challengers to Labour for the seat following an increase of 22.7% in their vote.

Labour, Conservatives and Greens all saw their vote fall since the last time this seat was contested in 2007. It is likely that the Green Party is particularly disappointed as voters turned away from them, and their vote fell 17.5%, in a ward where they have a sitting councillor.

The results were;

1st – Labour 603
2nd – Liberal Democrats 389
3rd – Green 339
4th – Conservative 301
5th – UKIP 83

We would like to thank every person who helped out in the campaign and who came out to vote.

On Saturday 17th April Stuart Langhorn and the rest of our team will officially launch the Lancaster and Fleetwood Campaign.

Stuart plans to do this by cycling from Fleetwood to Caton – end to end of the constituency!

Lancaster and Fleetwood is a massive constituency – only connected by the Fleetwood – Knott End Ferry! Whoever represents it must be able to understand the needs of the residents through out this diverse constituency. That’s why our candidate Stuart Langhorn is getting out there to meet the people through out the constituency.

The route also takes us along some of the coastline threatened by rising sea levels and helps to demonstrate the need for a green new deal for the country.

Schedule: 9.15 Depart Fleetwood Floral Hall

10.00 Fleetwood Ferry Terminal

1.00 Depart Glasson Dock

3.00 Millennium Bridge Lancaster

4.00 Caton Victoria Institute

We would love to have people join us for some or all of the route and people to meet us at key points – let us know if you can.

For further details contact:

Stuart Langhorn

Liberal Democrat PPC

Lancaster and Fleetwood
07919 927467

You can also leave a comment below or drop us an email using the contact form.