Cumbria Lib Dems at odds with Labour leader’s challenge of unitary decision

Senior Liberal Democrats in Cumbria do not back the Labour leader of the county council for taking the decision to legally challenge the recently announced local government reorganisation.

Stewart Young has sent a pre-action protocol letter to the Government, challenging their decision to split Cumbria into two new councils.

Cumbria's Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron said: "Launching a legal challenge against the reorganisation plans will be a waste of public money and time and I would strongly urge Stewart Young to reconsider.

"Liberal Democrats in Cumbria passionately believe that we should instead be focusing on serving local residents and concentrating on working on the issues that matter to them like jobs, schools, social care and the environment."

Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Cumbria County Council Peter Thornton said: "We have just 18 months to create two new Cumbrian councils from the seven existing councils.

"The County Council Liberal Democrat Group believe that we should be concentrating on this task rather than expending time and money challenging the Government's decision."