Local Elections 2021 (Shipley and Keighley Liberal Democrats)

Wherever you live in Shipley, Bingley, Keighley or Ilkley, the Liberal Democrats have a local champion standing to represent you and your community in the Local Elections on May 6th.

(In three wards - Bingley Rural, Keighley Central and Wharfedale - there are by-elections taking place so we are standing two candidates in those wards).

For a downloadable/printable version of this list, please click here.

Baildon Nick Errington	Nick has lived in the area for seven years with his wife and two children. He is a global quality manager for an insurance company. He enjoys running, cooking and family walks.	Bingley Nick Allon	Nick first came to the area in 1970 where he studied at a local school. He trained as a Naval Architect at Newcastle University. He initially worked in a shipyard in Scotland then, due to the near-total collapse of the ship building industry, he retrained to specialise in IT. With his new skills he moved back into Ilkley in 1989, where he still lives with his wife. He has interests in beekeeping and hill-walking.
Bingley Rural Helen Baranowski	Helen has lived in Wilsden for more than 12 years. She is a mum to three young children. Helen works as an employment law solicitor specialising in issues within the NHS. Helen has been a member of Wilsden Parish Council and a school governor.	Bingley Rural Kay Kirkham	Kay has lived in Harden for 20 years. She trained as a primary school music teacher and was a county and district councillor in Teesside from 1985 to 1994. She has worked for two MPs and is now Vice Chair of the Village Council and a season ticket holder at Middlesbrough Football Club.
Craven Paul Mann	Paul studied geology and archaeology at Oxford, and geomatics at Glasgow, and now runs a Skipton-based survey company employing one person. He enjoys pot-holing, hill-walking and canal boating. Married with three young children, he has lived in the Craven area for eight years.	Ilkley Steve Spoerry	Steve has lived in Ilkley since 2010. His children attend Ilkley Grammar School where he was a parent governor. Steve was a Chief Executive in the NHS. More recently he has advised companies providing services to the NHS. During the pandemic he returned to working for the NHS on a temporary basis.
Keighley Central Tom Franks	Tom has lived in the area for over 30 years. He is a civil engineer, with an expertise in water resources. His career was in international development, initially with an engineering consultancy and since 1984 based at Bradford University. Following retirement he volunteers with Citizens Advice in Bradford.	Keighley Central Pauline Allon	Pauline has lived in the area for 20 years. She trained as a registered nurse and worked at Airedale Hospital in cardiology and later worked in palliative care in a Leeds hospice. Having worked in the NHS she is passionate about the quality of care provided to all patients. She enjoys the countryside and wildlife and campaigns for a green economy.
Keighley East Bob Jones	Bob has lived in the district since 1989 and was a Parish Councillor for eight years. As a teacher he worked in Bradford eventually becoming 14-19 Education Advisor. He is currently a martial arts coach in Leeds, where he is a Director of a company. He has a keen interest in promoting entrepreneurship and business start-ups, especially with young people.	Keighley West Caroline Jones	Caroline is Yorkshire born and has lived in the district for over 35 years. Now retired, she was a primary school business manager, working closely with staff, children, governors and parents and responsible for all aspects of finance, HR, and buildings. She served for many years as a Parish Councillor. She likes gardening, reading and history.
Shipley David Wilkinson	David has lived in Shipley Ward since returning from university in 1996. He is married with two adopted daughters. Despite a degree in German and Spanish, he now works with data and statistics for the Church of England. He enjoys a fine single malt whisky and all sorts of music, especially the singing of folk Christmas carols.	Wharfedale Jamie Needle	After completing his PhD at Sheffield University's Department of Psychology in 2006, Jamie moved to Menston where he lives with his wife and sons. He now works in a small hydroelectric power business. He is a keen cook and musician and a member of a local Anglican church.
Wharfedale Peter Russell	Peter and his wife moved into the area seven years ago. He has been a Lib Dem member since 2010 and works as an IT trainer in Leeds. He's particularly interested in what we can do to improve education and public transport.	Windhill and Wrose Gillian Thorne	Gillian was born in Shipley. She now lives in Bolton Woods. She has two daughters and four grandchildren. She has worked for Yorkshire Water for the last 30 years. She likes gardening, reading and listening to all types of music. She is a member of Wrose Parish Council.
Worth Valley Paul Wilson	Paul is married and has two teenage children. Currently, they go to a local school. He has lived continuously in the Worth Valley Ward since 2000. He is a barrister, specialising in Employment Law, practising from chambers in Leeds and Birmingham.