COUN Mel Allcott, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Worcester, has declared her readiness for the upcoming election.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the United Kingdom would hold a general election on July 4.
This announcement came after prolonged speculation and delays, which critics have attributed to the government’s attempts to bolster its declining poll numbers.
Following a poor performance in the recent local elections, where the Conservative Party fell to third place in council seat numbers, the decision to call for an election was seen as inevitable.
Coun Allcott said : “It’s about time we had an election. Change is needed and now is the time,”
She said she is dissatisfied with the current government’s handling of various issues, including inflation, healthcare, and the environment.
“Rishi may take credit for inflation going down but it’s minimal comfort for those with high mortgages.
“People are sick of being taken for granted and the government cannot take credit for anything. The inflation drop would have happened anyway regardless.
“Meanwhile, priorities to the public have been left to fester. The NHS has been turned into a shell of its former self.
“Clapping on doorsteps did nothing during Covid to help those workers do their jobs. Instead, we’ve seen closures like that of Farrier House GP surgery and the 40 new hospitals they promised are nowhere to be found.”
Coun Allcott criticised the Conservative Party’s track record, particularly under Sunak’s leadership and his predecessor, Liz Truss.
She highlighted local issues such as the increase in sewage dumping into Worcester’s rivers, citing an analysis of Environment Agency data which revealed a 101 per cent rise in the duration of sewage spills in 2023 compared to the previous year.
In response to the general election being called, Coun Allcott said: “Bring it on. It’s time this Tory calamity was brought to an end, and as the Liberal Democrat Candidate for Worcester, I am ready to step up to that plate and deliver what the voters want: “Strong Representation by a candidate from Worcester who delivers for the people of Worcester.”
