Former Sheffield council leader seeks return

Lord Paul Scriven announced this morning he will be one of three Liberal Democrat councillors to contest the Ecclesall ward.

With all three ward seats currently held by the Lib Dems, Lord Scriven will be confident of securing a return to the town hall.

Lord Scriven said: “I’m standing for election because I love this city and I’m not prepared to sit back and let Labour turn business away and trash our precious environment.”

“Under Julie Dore’s ‘Labour-knows-best’ leadership, healthy trees are being axed despite huge public opposition, parks and green spaces are at risk of development, and the council have fought to turn investment away from Sheffield.

“Our areas have seen cuts to services like libraries and winter gritting while taxpayers’ money is still being thrown at pet projects in Labour’s favoured areas. Labour are back to their old ways and local people are being ignored.

“With the entire council up for election, we have a real opportunity to deliver the change of leadership local people deserve.

“Every Liberal Democrat in Sheffield now needs to play their part in campaigning to win in May – and I’m going to lead from the front.”

Lord Scriven was council leader when the Liberal Democrats controlled Sheffield City Council between 2008 and 2011.

It represented the high watermark for the Lib Dems in local government in modern times with the party running other urban authorities in the North including York and Hull.

Lord Scriven was made a Peer last year but has vowed to campaign for the abolition of the House of Lords.

Coun Penny Baker, who currently represents Ecclesall, will stand in the Stannington Ward in May