James Airey has been selected as the Conservative candidate for Westmorland and Lonsdale in the forthcoming General Election.
James, who is the leader of the Conservative group at Cumbria County Council, said: “It is a huge honour and privilege to be selected to lead the Conservative charge here in Westmorland and Lonsdale. If elected to represent the people of the constituency into which I was born, you can be sure I will never put my own political ambitions ahead of serving the people of this area.”
“Only Theresa May and the Conservatives can Build a Better Britain. Only the electorate of Westmorland and Lonsdale can ensure this constituency has a strong local voice with a Conservative MP speaking at the heart of a Conservative government to deliver that Better Britain.”
“I pledge to ensure that all of you who share a passion for this area, who work so hard to achieve so much – in our hospitals and schools, in our businesses and voluntary organisations, at home and at work - I will not only be here to serve you, but I will always seek to highlight your contribution to our fantastic home.”
James continued: “Over recent weeks, I have been with my Council colleagues knocking on the doors of residents throughout the area. It's clear that there are many former voters for other parties will be supporting the Conservatives to build a stronger Cumbria on 4 May and a stronger Britain in the General Election on 8 June. I look forward to meeting many more of you over coming weeks.”
“The choice is clear. It is a choice between Theresa May’s Conservative Team providing strong and stable leadership for the United Kingdom, or a coalition of chaos and instability led by a failed and bumbling Jeremy Corbyn that will put our nation’s future at risk.”
James, who was born in Kendal, was educated at Queen Elizabeth School in Kirkby Lonsdale and has built a twin career here as farmer and politician. With his wife, Caroline, and son, Owen, James is a prize-winning sheep farmer near Ulverston and has also been the Agent to Westmorland and Lonsdale Conservative Association in Kendal for over 12 years.
James and the Conservative Team recognise the huge importance of the Westmorland General Hospital to local people. Choosing to announce that he was standing to be MP at the hospital, James is very keen to work with the doctors, nurses and others at the Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust to ensure that the services offered meet the needs of local people now and in the future.
Alan Price, Chairman of the Association, said: “We are delighted that James has been chosen to represent our area as the Conservative candidate. James will be an excellent and hard-working MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale.”
“James is the truly local candidate, is well-known throughout the constituency and understands the issues that matter to local people in a way that only someone who has been born, lived and worked here can do."