The Liberal Democrats have named the final two candidates in the running to stand for the party in Harrogate and Knaresborough at the next election.
Local councillor Matt Walker and party campaigner Tom Gordon will be on the ballot paper when the final vote takes place, ending on January 30.
The winning candidate will be introduced as the prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) at the constituency’s annual dinner on February 4.
Mr Walker was elected to represent Knaresborough West on North Yorkshire Council last May. He works for the NHS and has managed A&E at Harrogate District Hospital, as well as the out-of-hours GP service for North Yorkshire. He grew up and went to school in Harrogate and Knaresborough.
Mr Gordon has campaigned for the Liberal Democrats around the country, including supporting Judith Rogerson in Harrogate and Knaresborough at the last general election. He was born and raised in Yorkshire and previously stood for the Lib Dems in the Batley and Spen by-election in 2021.
The selection process has been long and drawn out for the party. It initially began last June, but was abandoned two months later when the constituency was made a ‘target seat’ by the national party.
Writing to local party members to reflect on the last year, Harrogate and Knaresborough party chairman David Goode said the North Yorkshire elections last May had been very successful for the Liberal Democrats.
He added:
“We became a target seat. This means people think we can win. Being a target seat will involve us all in continuing the great work of 2022 into 2023 and beyond.
“We all know that elections are not won in the eight weeks leading up to poling day they are won with campaigning activity in the years leading up to an election. 2023 will be a crucial year for us to maintain our electoral success.”
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The Green Party is the only one to have announced its PPC for Harrogate and Knaresborough. Paul Ko Ferrigno has lived in Harrogate since 2007 and is involved in several community football teams as well as being a governor at Oatlands Junior School.
Meanwhile, the local Labour party said there was no update on its selection of a PPC since September. At that time, when Mr Ko Ferrigno was selected, a spokesman said:
“Being a much larger party, Labour operates a national system with local parties making the final decision on their candidate. Harrogate & Knaresborough Labour have asked to move forward with selecting a candidate as soon as possible.”
The Conservatives have not yet confirmed whether Andrew Jones will stand for a fifth time, having first been elected as the area’s MP in 2010.
The Stray Ferret asked the Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative Association whether he had been confirmed as the PPC and received the following response:
“I think I must have missed something… is there a general election? I am able to confirm that the MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough is Andrew Jones.”
There has been no word on candidates for parties in Skipton and Ripon, where Julian Smith has been the Conservative MP since 2010.
The Selby and Ainsty Conservative MP, Nigel Adams, has already announced he will stand down at the next election.
His seat looks likely to be broken up in the constituency shake-up being carried out by the Boundary Commission this year, though this will not be confirmed until later in the year.
A general election must be held by January 24, 2025, at the latest.
