Putting Cumbria First (PCF), 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 the goal of prioritising the interests of the people of Cumbria over national party politics.[2][3]

The party currently has no elected representatives.[4]

Policies

The party's policies include:[5]

The party's leader, Jonathan Davies, supports giving city status to the town of Barrow-in-Furness.[6]

Davies also supports a single combined authority and a devolution deal for Cumbria's local government.[7]

Electoral performance

The party's leader, Jonathan Davies, had previously stood as an independent candidate for Penrith and the Border in the 2017 General Election. He came last with 0.9% of the vote.[8]

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.[9][10] The party's first local councillor, Michael Little, was elected to Allerdale District Council at the same election.[11][12] Five months after being elected, Little defected to the Conservative party, saying he had been impressed by their leadership of the council and was won over by Boris Johnson's commitment to "get Brexit done by October 31".[13] Four months after that, in February 2020, Little rejoined Putting Cumbria First, after announcing and then withdrawing his resignation as a councillor. He described his previous decision to move to the Conservatives as "rash" and said he was "more politically aligned to Putting Cumbria First".[14]

Davies stood as a CumbriaFirst candidate for Penrith and the Border in the 2019 General Election, ultimately coming last with 2.2% of the vote.[15]

In February 2025, Davies contested a by-election in Eamont and Shap ward on Westmorland and Furness Council. He received 6.5% of the vote and was not elected.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b "View registration - The Electoral Commission". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b "New political party aiming to put Cumbria first". Cumberland and Westmorland Herald. 15 February 2019. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  3. ^ "About Putting Cumbria First". www.puttingcumbriafirst.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  4. ^ "Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections". opencouncildata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  5. ^ "CumbriaFirst Key Manifesto Items". www.puttingcumbriafirst.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  6. ^ Fenton, Amy (24 December 2019). "City status debate for Barrow and Penrith in Cumbria". North-West Evening Mail. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  7. ^ Duncan, Ian (28 January 2024). "Calls for the creation of a 'combined authority' to deliver services across Cumbria". News and Star. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  8. ^ "Penrith & The Border parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  9. ^ "District election 2019 results". www.eden.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  10. ^ "Election results". www.carlisle.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  11. ^ "Borough election result 2019". www.allerdale.gov.uk. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  12. ^ "Election results: Yvonne Clarkson ousted from Beckermet". BBC News. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  13. ^ Connell, John (4 October 2019). "Politician switches to Conservatives". News and Star. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  14. ^ Bedendo, Federica (28 February 2020). "Allerdale's political future in doubt". Times and Star. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Penrith and the Border Constituency". Eden District Council. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  16. ^ "Eamont and Shap by-election | Westmorland and Furness Council". www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2025.


Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putting_Cumbria_First
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