Local councillor chosen as Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Gloucester

A local councillor and charity worker has been picked to be the Liberal Democrat candidate for Gloucester at the next General Election.

Rebecca Trimnell, who is a councillor for Westgate on the city council, was chosen by local Lib Dem party members.

She will take on Conservative MP Richard Graham and Labour’s Alex McIntyre at the next General Election, which could happen at any time between now and January next year.

Councillor Trimnell, who lives in the shadow of St Oswald’s Priory, works for a charity helping people with dementia and has previously worked in social care, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, helping some of our city’s most vulnerable.

She also has a strong record of voluntary work, including as a trained Samaritan volunteer and a mental health first aider.

“I am delighted to be selected as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Gloucester,” Councillor Trimnell said.

“It is a great honour to stand in the forthcoming General Election for a city that I have made my home for the last 13 years.

“In Gloucester we have seen the city council going from vanishing to pretty much vanished and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital’s CQC ratings plummeting to ‘inadequate’ in key areas.

“Adult social care is on its knees impacting detrimentally on the lives of vulnerable people and their families throughout the city and up and down the country.

“Living in the centre of Gloucester for over a decade has given me a valuable insight into what is needed to move the city forward into becoming a better place to live and work.

“Gloucester has an incredible history with a diverse mix of individuals. It would be a great honour to represent all the city’s residents as Gloucester’s first Liberal Democrat MP.

“I am very proud to be given this opportunity. We all know that change is needed and I for one would like to see more compassion in politics and to rid the lack-lustre and complacent attitudes that have remained in power for far too long both in this city and nationally.

“I look forward to continuing my conversations with residents across the city and in my area of Westgate where I am currently the elected city councillor.”