Nationally I think we are all a bit disappointed. Our future as a party is not certain. However, I want to reassure all the local members in Lancaster and Morecambe that in 2020 we will be working harder than ever before.

As Liberal Democrats our strength comes from our local volunteers focussing on district issues and the problems that people face on a day to day basis. I want to see us working in tandem with businesses, charities and events across the district in the New Year to not only raise our profile but hopefully raise our spirits too. I want to begin a big data project by surveying both constituencies by 2021, ensuring that we have the information we need to target wards properly for the County Council elections. This, more crucially will ensure we know exactly what problems need tackling. I want to see a new Young Liberal initiative across our district, working with the University society to raise a new generation of young local Liberal Democrats.

On a personal note, I’ve been working with the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors and Campaigners since August 2019 and have been bringing the knowledge and experience I have learned back to Lancaster and Morecambe. In the General Election, we used Connect and Minivan (Our Party’s official canvassing and database software) for the first time to great effect, collecting more information than ever before. We used our collective design skills to create calling cards, tabloid newspapers and Focus leaflets; for the first time we had a modern, effective campaigning machine.

I am so proud of the hard work of all our volunteers who took time out of their busy December schedules to brave the weather and help us promote our values. I am satisfied to tell everyone that we won 2328 votes in Morecambe and Lunesdale, holding our deposit for the first time in 9 years and increasing our vote share.

Rest assured, this is not the end. For Lancaster and Morecambe, this is our beginning.

-Owen Lambert (2019 Morecambe and Lunesdale Liberal Democrat candidate)