Charlotte Barnes, the Lib Dem Shropshire Councillor for Bishops Castle, was last night selected by an overwhelming majority of local Liberal Democrats to contest the Ludlow seat at next year’s General Election.
Speaking after the selection meeting at the Bishop Mascall Centre in Ludlow on Saturday, Charlotte said:
It’s a great honour to be selected to represent the Lib Dems in next year’s contest. I will be following in the footsteps of great local campaigners such as Matthew Green and Heather Kidd.
“We face some real challenges in this rural part of Shropshire. We are often neglected by both Central Government and the County. The threat of our hospital services disappearing, falling school rolls and a chaotic slash and burn council are just some of the problems our area faces.
Charlotte has built a reputation as a strong local campaigner since her election to Shropshire Council, fighting on issues such as unwanted housing, the town’s youth club and the future of their business park. She is currently pressing the mobile provider EE over the poor signal it provides in southwest Shropshire.
Charlotte on Facebook. Charlotte on Twitter.
The profile
Charlotte is married to Paul Barnes and has two sons, Edward and Dominic, both attending local Shropshire schools. Charlotte herself was educated at Bishop’s Castle Community College.
After working as a researcher for a firm of London head-hunters, Charlotte now runs an electrical contracting business with her husband.
In the community Charlotte is an active school governor, parish councillor. She was elected to Shropshire Council in 2011 on the retirement of local activist Peter Philips. Charlotte was re-elected in 2013 with an increased majority, taking 62% of the vote.
She is Deputy Group Leader on the Shropshire Council Lib Dem Group and is Chairman of Bishops Castle Lib Dem Branch.