Richard Kilpatrick has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Greater Manchester in the upcoming mayoral election to replace Andy Burnham.

Full statement

Richard has pledged to tackle the cost of living crisis, improve public services and deliver desperately needed housing for the region.

Richard is deeply embedded in the Greater Manchester community, having lived and worked in the area for over 10 years, as well as serving as a Councillor in Didsbury West since 2018 where he currently lives. Formerly in teaching, Richard has more recently spent time campaigning for closer ties between the UK and EU to reverse the huge damage caused by Brexit. He has also tirelessly campaigned for unpaid carers and investment in social care, having been a carer for his own mum, who had Alzheimer's.

Richard has an outstanding track record of delivery, including opening emergency spaces for victims of flooding and holding the Council accountable on how they spend public money. The Liberal Democrats have recently made gains across the Greater Manchester region, including taking control of Stockport Council in May’s local elections.

Richard and the Liberal Democrats have called for an immediate package to help households across Greater Manchester who are struggling with the cost of living crisis through an essential energy guarantee slashing the amount people pay for energy bills. Richard also wants to see more investment in social care, more affordable public transport and to improve community policing.

The Labour party have been focussed on infighting and Westminster squabbling, whilst local people have been utterly squeezed by the cost of living crisis and underfunded public services. Richard will stand up against both Labour’s failure to deliver for our community, but also against Reform and Nigel Farage’s divisive rhetoric which doesn’t represent the region’s brilliant diverse community.

He is a dedicated public servant, who passionately believes that people across Greater Manchester deserve so much better than the current status quo and he has pledged to restore the communities faith by being truly focussed on what matters to people here.