Two SLF Council members are fighting hard to win seats that were until recently, held by Liberal Democrat MPs.
Helen Flynn, PPC for Harrogate and Knaresborough and Kelly-Marie Blundell, PPC for Guildford, share how they've been taking social liberal values to the heart of their election campaigns.
We wish them all the very best of luck. Please do help to get them elected. Details about their campaign headquarters and action days will be advertised in the next SLF weekly newsletter.
Helen Flynn, PPC for Harrogate and Knaresborough
I am a values-based politician, determined to be both responsive to and a strong leader for any community on behalf of which I am elected to serve.
I currently represent my local ward at Harrogate Borough Council, and this year for the first time in the history of the council I prepared on behalf of the Lib Dem group an alternative budget which focused on: council provision of affordable housing, provision of a business incubation hub, support for community transport and greater provision of cycling infrastructure, amongst other policies.
This is how I would see my role as an MP—policies not politics. My interest is in developing policies that support communities, rather than simply playing party politics. I am a positive and progressive politician.
One of my campaign messages is “People first, not party”. I believe that is right and consistent with the strong tradition of the social liberal values I know we all share within the SLF that always put people and equality of opportunity at the heart of all we strive for.
You can follow Helen on Twitter @flynnhc
Kelly-Marie Blundell, PPC for Guildford
I remain a proud social liberal. And for me, this means putting fairness at the heart of all politics.
It is not fair to leave people victim to market forces, and to limit equality of opportunity only to those wealthy enough to get on in life.
My key priorities in the election campaign are to address the inequality in Mental Health services, champion lower business rates for small businesses and provide more free childcare starting from 9 months, to ensure every child has the best opportunity and their parents can return to work if they wish.
Locally I have worked with Lib Dem Councillors to provide support for those with under-occupancy charges, securing changes in our manifesto on this too, I have worked with foodbanks and with work support to ensure everyone has access to opportunity to get on in life. I will continue to do this in my role as member of parliament for Guildford.