ONE of the candidates for the leadership of the Liberal Democrat Party was in Cornwall on Friday – and says she hopes to see her party win back Parliamentary seats in the Duchy.

Jo Swinson, deputy leader of the party, is looking to take the top spot after Sir Vince Cable stood down. She is up against Ed Davey for the post.

On Friday she visited Cornwall ahead of a hustings event for Lib Dem members being held in Plymouth.

She visited Bodmin, Blisland, Liskeard and Saltash as she made her way to Plymouth.

Speaking while making her way through Cornwall, she said it had been “fascinating” to speak to local people and businesses and she was full of praise for a youth project in Saltash.

She said: “We need to listen to the people in the community and what the issues are, understanding what their concerns are.

“The candidates here in Cornwall, such as Colin Martin (South East Cornwall) have been telling me about some of the issues here in Cornwall such as the NHS funding campaign.

“It is shocking that the NHS has been underfunded for so long but the fact that the Government is still not giving Cornwall the money that it deserves.

“I am concerned about the impact that has on people who can’t access the services, that has a real impact on people’s lives.

“It is great that we have people campaigning for that, but that is why we need Liberal Democrat MPs. The best way to change this and get these issues heard is to get campaigning Liberal Democrat MPs elected in Cornwall.

“I remember the likes of Matthew Taylor, Dan Rogerson, Andrew George, Colin Breed and Julia Goldsworthy – we had that constant voice in Parliament, they worked really well because they worked together. That is what we need to happen if we are to get Cornwall the fairer funding it needs.”

Cornwall voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum and with the Lib Dems stating clearly that they would like to remain Ms Swinson said that would continue to be the party’s principled position.

She said: “If Brexit happens there will be problems for Cornwall. I spoke with some farmers and they were talking about the challenge with workforce and seasonal employees – these things are all made more difficult.

“Tourism is another area that is of importance in the Cornish economy and we need to make sure the message gets out there that we are open to the world. This is an amazing place and we need to ensure there is support for the industry.”

Cornwall Council declared a climate emergency earlier this year and is currently putting together an action plan to reach a goal of zero carbon emissions – so what would the Lib Dems do to help?

Ms Swinson said: “The climate emergency is the biggest threat that we all face as a population and around the world. The science is very clear on the type of action that is needed in this short window of time if we are going to make a difference.

“We need to reshape our whole economy, the way that we travel and the way that we live our lives.

“Cornwall Council making that declaration is absolutely brilliant, Parliament has also done this and the Lib Dems have always been campaigning to take action on climate change and we believe that we should be aiming to reach zero carbon emissions by 2045.”

The Lib Dem MP said that she would want to see subsidies for the support of renewable energy schemes reinstated and that more focus is given in Westminster to climate change.

Of course, at present Cornwall has six Conservative MPs – a change from historically being a Lib Dem stronghold. So can the party have MPs in Cornwall again?

“Cornwall has a strong Liberal history,” said Ms Swinson “There have been so many MPs who people will recall with fondness for being champions of the area.

“Our candidates know and understand the challenges people face in Cornwall and this area needs people who will drive forward.

“Liberal Democrats will always put the interests of local people first and do what they want. At the moment we have MPs who are just following the Government line.”