Local Liberal Democrats have selected Claire Young to fight the winnable Thornbury and Yate parliamentary seat at the next election. Following the dramatic by-election win in Somerton and Frome the local party are now setting their sights on defeating Luke Hall.
The seat is a target for the Party after the exceptional local election results in May 2023 when the Lib Dems polled over 60 per cent of the vote across the Constituency. The Lib Dems topped the poll in every ward within the new boundaries for the Parliamentary seat.
Claire is also Leader of South Glouceshtsire Council after the party formed a joint administration with Labour.
A Cambridge mathematics graduate, Claire spent a decade working in the software industry. She began her career with IBM, where her work included stints in Silicon Valley. Later she worked for high-tech start-up businesses in our area. She is keen to ensure that local people of all ages can take advantage of the many opportunities on our doorstep. Recently, she has combined this background with her environmental activism to perform academic research into the environmental impact of information technology.
Claire lives with her family in Coalpit Heath, and her two sons attended local schools. She has been a South Gloucestershire councillor since 2007.
Commenting on her selection, Claire said:
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to stand at the next election and win this seat for the Liberal Democrats. I know local people are really fed up with this government’s mishandling of the economy and the NHS, and want a change. Only the Liberal Democrats can beat the Conservatives here, in this seat Labour got just 4% of the vote in the local elections. Living locally and running the Council I know just what is needed in the area - it’s time for an MP who speaks up and delivers.”
The Labour Party have published a list of “non-priority” seats for the next Westminster General Election, which includes the South Gloucestershire constituency of Thornbury & Yate.
