Graham Smith, a business consultant and company owner with a Social and Political Studies degree.

Full statement

I live just out of the constituency over the river Douglas and have strong family ties to the area, my father is from West Lancs and my sister lives there and is a governor at the university.

The state of our nation has been going downhill for some time. A couple of years ago, I decided to join the Liberal Democrats to make a difference. After a rapid rise within the local party, I was asked by West Lancs & Chorley Liberal Democrats to be the candidate at the General Election.

The Liberal Democrat “Fair Deal” manifesto makes no apology for putting the support of the NHS and Carers front and centre.

I have more than a soft spot for the NHS, with it saving my life twice in recent years. Also, the team at Wrightington hospital has rebuilt my knee, so well, I can take part in local park runs at Ormskirk and Skelmersdale.

Carers are the forgotten people of West Lancashire. With our leader, Sir Ed Davey’s personal experience of being a child carer and now an adult carer, they will be remembered and looked after with a Liberal Democrat vote.