Farron hopes for Yorkshire gains as campaign launched

Tim Farron was in York earlier this month for the Lib Dems' spring conference

The elections on May 5 will be the first real test of the Lib Dems’ fortunes since their mauling at the hands of voters at last year’s General Election.

Yorkshire gave the party some of its best results last May as then leader Nick Clegg and Greg Mulholland defended their Sheffield Hallam and Leeds North West seats while fellow Lib Dems across the country were ejected.

Mr Farron will launch the party’s local election campaign in Sheffield this morning before later travelling to Hull.

It is the start of a two-day tour which will also take in Newcastle, Southport and Liverpool.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Mr Farron said: “Up and down the country we are seeing how Labour and the Conservatives are attacking the fabric of our communities.

“The Tories are undermining our teachers and our health service, failing on housing, and turning their back on the environment. And Labour is too split and too focused on themselves to notice or care.

“We know we can make a difference in people’s lives, and we will never give up fighting for our communities.

“Community is what you make it. It’s the place you live, it’s the experiences and identities you share, and the people with whom you feel you belong.

“This election will show the way back and how our style of community politics can and does make a difference to community politics.

“We bring people together and believe in the value of community. And we know, when people work together they can create great things.”

At the high point of their fortunes, the Liberal Democrats ran both Sheffield and Hull and they remain the main opposition group on both authorities.

Former council leader and now Lib Dem peer Lord Paul Scriven is among the party’s candidates in Sheffield.

The party is positioning itself as the only realistic challenger to Labour in areas such as Hull and Sheffield and to the Conservatives in places like Harrogate.

Speaking to The Yorkshire Post earlier this month, Mr Farron said the upcoming elections would be measure of how things are going” as the party recovers from last year’s losses.