Flashback: Steve Webb and team celebrating the go-ahead for Yate cinema

Our popular former long-serving MP Steve Webb, who was narrowly
defeated at the 2015 General Election, has announced he will not be
seeking re-selection. Instead he will continue his local work as part of
a new candidate’s team.

Thornbury and Yate Liberal Democrats have just announced that they will
select Steve’s successor as Parliamentary Candidate on 15th July.

With speculation mounting about a possible snap election, Steve said “It
has been a huge privilege to serve the people of this area for eighteen
years.  In that time, I have met so many committed campaigners and
selfless individuals who give so much to their local community.  I also
owe a huge debt to my team in the constituency office and to our active
local campaigners who have taught me so much.  Our strong team of local
councillors and campaigners and our new candidate for Parliament will
continue to have my wholehearted support”

South Glos Council leader, Ruth Davis, said “It is impossible to put
into words our gratitude to Steve on behalf of our community and the
countless people he and the team have helped. He has built a really
strong team of people committed to the needs of our residents. That team
is carrying on the work, with him as part of it. Since the Referendum
we have been staggered by the large number of  people coming forward to
join the party locally. We had a massive growth in membership just after
the general election and that has happened again this year.  So we are
in a stronger position than ever and ready for the challenges the
country faces”

Steve Webb was MP for Northavon and then for Thornbury & Yate from
1997 to 2015 and Minister for Pensions from 2010 to 2015. As well as his
highly-regarded work on pensions, Steve has been a passionate local
campaigner, working alongside local people to deliver a cinema for Yate
and improved bus services to Southmead Hospital, fighting cuts to local
services and raising local issues in the House of Commons. He still
lives with his family near Thornbury.

At the last General Election the Lib Dems were defeated in this
constituency by just 1495 votes, making this seat the closest fought
between Lib Dems and Conservatives in the whole South West.