Lib Dems select Lymm-based Graham Gowland to contest Warrington South at General Election

WARRINGTON Liberal Democrats have selected Lymm-based Cllr Graham Gowland, as their candidate to stand in Warrington South for the forthcoming General Election, even though the village has been removed from the constituency by the Boundary Commission.

Graham commented: “It’s a real honour to be chosen – I’ve been a long-term Lymm Parish councillor, and have served on Warrington Borough Council since 2021, but the chance to represent Warrington South in Parliament will give me the opportunity to raise the issues I’ve seen in local government, with underfunding of local services, and often a lack of consistency that sees different parts of the country facing real problems.

“Representing Warrington South means I can give residents a real voice in the decision-making process, that impacts us all.” Recent Electoral Boundary changes means that Lymm and Latchford no longer sit in Warrington South, and Graham added: “The recent boundary changes were needed to help balance numbers, but it will cause some confusion where parts of Warrington will no longer be represented by a Warrington MP. As a Warrington resident impacted by this personally, I’ll be working to make sure that all residents remain supported.”

Graham has lived in Warrington since 2009, moving to Lymm in 2011 where he lives with his wife Tracy, two children who attend Lymm High, and two cocker spaniels. As well as serving as a councillor, he has been a Warrington School Governor, and currently sits as a Director on Warrington’s Own Buses. His usual occupation is a a ‘Risk Manager’, for a large hospitality company.
“I think my career has been the perfect training for the role of MP, as it’s given me considerable involvement in how government impacts upon businesses. Over COVID, my role was focussed on ensuring we followed the rules set by government, and that was a great example of how everyone needs sensible decisions to be made, then clearly communicated by policy-makers, and one think I am committed to do is to make sure information for my constituents will always be clearly communicated, and challenged when needed.”

Away from politics, Graham has been involved in many community projects, delivering regular community first-aid training sessions, acting as a volunteer ambulance responder, and has been a key member of many local initiatives, including the ‘Leave No-One behind’ group.

With Lymm now part of the Tatton Constituency for the General Election, which was opposed by the Lib Dems, Bowden based Jonathan Smith has been selected to be their candidate for Tatton.
Jonathan said, “I fought the seat in 2019, and increased the Lib Dem vote by 74%. Since then I have been campaigning hard across the area.
“I have worked at a senior level in both social care as a Director of Social Services and in the NHS as a Chief Executive. My wife Alison and I have lived in Bowdon for thirty years and we have four children and five grand-children.
“My experience is exactly what’s needed in Westminster. It is clear we are the main challengers to the Tories.”