Putting Cumbria First Explained

Putting Cumbria First
Leader:	Jonathan Davies
Foundation:	14 January 2019
Ideology:	Localism
Headquarters:	Mile Lane Penrith Cumbria CA11 0BX^[1]
Website:	http://www.puttingcumbriafirst.co.uk
Country:	England
Membership:	190 (2019)
Seats1 Title:	Council seats in Cumbria
Seats1:

Putting Cumbria First, also known as CumbriaFirst, is a regional political party based in Penrith, Cumbria. It was founded in January 2019 by local businessman Jonathan Davies with a vision of putting Cumbria's interests first.^[2]

Policies

The party's policies include:^[3]

• Increasing funding for schools
• Universal access to 4G networks
• Fully dualling the A66 and A69 roads
• Scrapping the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria
• Increasing front-line police
• Support for a second Scottish Independence Referendum
• Opposition to local government cuts

The party's leader Jonathan Davies supports giving city status to the town of Barrow-in-Furness.^[4]

Electoral performance

The Party Leader, Jonathan Davies, stood as an independent candidate for Penrith and the Border in the 2017 General Election.^[5] The party stood three candidates for election to both Eden District Council and Carlisle City Council at the May 2019 local elections, none were successful.^{[6] [7]}

The party's first local councillor, Michael Little, was elected to Allerdale District Council at the same election.^[8] Davies stood again as a candidate in the 2019 General Election, ultimately gaining 2.2% of the vote in Penrith and the Border.^[9]

References

1. Web site: View registration - The Electoral Commission. search.electoralcommission.org.uk. 11 November 2019.
2. News: New political party aiming to put Cumbria first. 15 January 2020. Cumberland and Westmorland Herald. 18 July 2020.
3. Web site: Our Manifesto. Putting Cumbria First. 17 July 2020.
4. News: Fenton. Amy. City status debate for Barrow and Penrith in Cumbria. 24 December 2019. North-West Evening Mail. 18 June 2020.
5. News: Penrith & The Border parliamentary constituency - Election 2017. 11 November 2019. en-GB.
6. Web site: election-results. www.carlisle.gov.uk. 11 November 2019.
7. Web site: Eden District ward election 2 May 2019 results. www.eden.gov.uk.
8. Web site: Borough election result 2019. 2 May 2019. www.allerdale.gov.uk. en. 11 November 2019.
9. Web site: Penrith and the Border Constituency. Eden District Council. 16 December 2019.