GRAHAM REED - LIBERAL DEMOCRAT - PLYMOUTH SUTTON AND DEVONPORT

Graham stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Plymouth Sutton and Devonport Constituency in 2015 and for Moor View in 2017. He is delighted to have another chance to represent Plymouth.

Graham worked for many years manufacturing scientific apparatus for industry and science. He gained a degree in politics and was a City Councillor for five years. That work, representing local people in the community, gave him valuable experience and understanding to be able to tackle the major issues facing Plymouth and the West Country. He is currently Parish Councillor for Bere Ferrers. He is a lifelong supporter of liberal values and has always fought for these basic core principals and goals: a fairer voting system to ensure everyone has true, democratic representation; a strong and competent economy, a sustainable Environment, good housing, proper education and health care for all. He strongly supports co-operative owned businesses and Societies and is a director for Tamar Energy Community, an energy-saving co-op that is fighting Climate Change.

Sima is a secondary school English teacher and is standing as parliamentary candidate in South West Devon. She grew up in South West Devon experiencing the rural nature of the constituency on a daily basis, where her maternal grandfather had strong links with the local farming community. Wherever she has studied or travelled, the rolling green hills of the constituency are always a sure sign that she is nearly home.

The "Let Us be Heard" march in London on 19th October met its target of one million people, and there were great cheers in the streets outside Parliament when the government lost the vote on the Letwin Amendment. Lib Dems were present in large numbers, and prominent at the head of the march.

A number of Plymouth Lib Dems took part, and Sima Davarian, PPC for South West Devon, was in the group leading the march, just behind Caroline Voaden MEP.

Sarah Martin has been selected as the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Plymouth Moor View constituency.

Sarah has worked most of her life in marketing and communications, recently for the local NHS.

Like so many others Sarah only became a member of the Liberal Democrats following the 2016 referendum. She has been very active in local and national elections and was elected as a Saltash Town Councillor in 2018.

"After spending ten years of my life post-university working in Germany, and seeing how the movement of people, goods and services within Europe changed and enhanced our country's landscape, I was appalled to think that we had voted by such a narrow margin to leave.

"Three years later so many people feel politically homeless. The landscape we are faced with at Westminster has changed beyond all recognition, and the things that should be important to us are taking a back seat. That is unacceptable.

"As a country we need to move forward. Brexit has sapped enough of our energy but also our democratic power and needs to be put to bed with a second referendum, which must include the option to remain. Our success as a party in this year's local and European elections has shown how important that is to the general public.

"We need a renewed effort to get the Liberal voice heard in Moor View and to show a way forward out of the mire of current politics. Mostly I want to offer the residents of Moor View a more tolerant, outward-looking and positive future.