Liberal Democrats select Paul Hodgkinson as Parliamentary candidate for the North Cotswolds

Paul Hodgkinson has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate to contest the North Cotswolds constituency at the next General Election.

Paul, who finished a close second in the constituency at the last General Election in 2024, enters this race as the clear challenger and the only candidate who can beat Reform UK here.

The Conservatives, who once dominated this part of Gloucestershire and only narrowly won the seat last year, have now fallen back into third place. Recent local by-elections and polling have shown Conservative support collapsing, with many former Conservative voters now backing Paul as the only credible candidate to keep Nigel Farage’s Reform UK out.

Paul is well known across the area. He is an experienced businessman and local councillor and has represented Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach for the past 12 years.

Paul Hodgkinson said:

“People across the constituency are telling me they want change. For too long our area has been taken for granted and our politics has been taken in the wrong direction. The choice here is now clear: it’s between me and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. Many Conservative and Labour supporters are already getting behind my campaign because they want a strong local voice who will stand up for our communities – not drag our politics to the extremes.”

Labour finished behind the Liberal Democrats at the last General Election and are forecast to do so again. Many Labour supporters have told Paul they are planning to back him this time in order to stop Reform UK.

Paul added: “I’ve lived in the area for 35 years and understand the challenges many residents face because I feel them too. I believe we can do better – on the NHS, on the cost of living, on decent public services, and on protecting our beautiful environment. My focus is on delivering for people who live here – not Westminster games.”

The North Cotswolds seat is expected to be one of the most closely watched contests in the country at the next General Election.