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Conservative candidate rejects Labour and Lib Dem anti-Reform positioning

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 06:00 · Archive

Conservative mayoral candidate Mike Starkie has accused Labour and the Liberal Democrats of running a negative campaign after both claimed next year's Cumbria mayoral election is now a 'straight fight' with them and Reform UK.

Mr Starkie said both Labour and the Liberal Democrats were focusing too heavily on positioning themselves as the main 'anti-Reform' option rather than setting out a positive vision for Cumbria. He said: 'The best Labour and the Lib Dems think they have to offer the electorate is that they are not Reform. My campaign will be entirely different. It will be focused on why you should vote for me, not why you shouldn't vote for someone else.'

The Conservative candidate argued that national polling trends were not a reliable guide to the Cumbria mayoral race and claimed voters were more interested in local issues and leadership experience. 'Labour is relying on temporary national polling bounces, while the Liberal Democrats barely register a vote across the west and south of the county,' he said. 'This is not a general election. It is a local mayoral election. Nationally minded polls do not dictate what Cumbria needs.'

Mr Starkie also claimed his campaign was attracting support from voters who may back other parties at a general election but want an experienced figure to lead the combined authority. He said he was gaining backing from people planning to vote Reform UK nationally, but who intended to support him in the mayoral contest because of his experience in local government and support for devolution.

Highlighting his record, Mr Starkie pointed to his eight years as Copeland's directly elected mayor and said he had overseen more than £300 million of inward investment during his time in office.

Conservative candidate rejects Labour and Lib Dem anti-Reform positioning
Image: Cumberland News

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In this story: Mike Starkie · Labour · Liberal Democrats · Reform UK · Cumbria · Copeland

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