Andy Kelly speaks about his election campaign

Andy Kelly

Andy Kelly, who is the Liberal Democrat candidate in the Rochdale constituency, speaks to Rochdale Online about his election campaign.

The Leader of the Lib Dems represents Milnrow and Newhey as a councillor and runs a Rochdale-based business.

He was born in Rochdale at Birch Hill Hospital and attended school here before marrying and raising two children in the town.

Key aspects of his campaign include:

• Campaigning against building on the green belt land.
• A fairer distribution of police resources in Rochdale and The Pennines.
• Removal of parking charges at hospitals.
• Prioritising mental health.
• Prioritising the future of the former Turner Brothers Asbestos factory in Spodden Valley.
• Abolish political police and crime commissioners.
• Raise £18m for Rochdale’s NHS and £7m for social care each year with a penny on income tax.

He also opposes the notion of political police and crime commissioners and will campaign to abolish them and ‘end the scandal’ that a high number of crimes were not investigated. Last year, 45% of all crimes were not investigated.

Mr Kelly told Rochdale Online: “I’d really like to thank our volunteers. Our numbers have swelled, especially since Brexit, loads have returned to us.

“It’s great to be part of so many people wanting change. We’ve been campaigning with no central fund, it’s all through donations and it’s really heartfelt.

“I’ve taken five weeks’ unpaid leave for campaigning because I’m doing this seriously and I’m in it to improve Rochdale.

“It’s between us and Labour, the Liberal Democrat vote is returning and the other parties know it. Rochdale has always had a Liberal or Labour MP, we’ve not had a Tory MP since 1951 and lots of people can’t bring themselves to vote for the Conservatives.

“People want change and don’t want the same; we’ve long campaigned against the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, for better transport and against the direct pay rise of 34% for councillors.

“It’s been really positive, hang in there Rochdale, we’ll improve soon if you vote for me. I’m genuinely thrilled to be a part of this and I’m not going anywhere.”