A Lincoln student hopes to become the country’s youngest MP after the Liberal Democrats announced their snap general election candidates for Lincoln, Sleaford and North Hykeham.
The Liberal Democrats beat the Conservatives and Labour in both Lincoln, Sleaford and North Hykeham at the European elections in May.
The party, who also doubled its members, has announced the following snap general election candidates:
Oliver Craven, 19, who now works as a bartender, grew up in Long Bennington and studied at the King’s School in Grantham. He will be running for the Sleaford and North Hykeham MP role.
He said: “It’s time that we have an MP that will work for everybody and ensure that we have a strong rural economy, that we protect our vital village schools and expand our limited health service.
“The decision to close Grantham A&E at night was appalling for people in Sleaford and the surrounding villages and I completely support the Lib Dem pledge for a penny in the pound on income tax for the NHS which would provide vital funding for areas like ours.”
He added: “Despite desperately wanting to Remain, I couldn’t vote in the EU Referendum almost three years ago. Since then we’ve had prime ministers, Brexit Secretaries and dozens of other ministers and MPs who have all resigned and left us with no plan.
“I felt powerless in 2016 but like many people I’ve spoken to, it spurred me on to join the Lib Dems and make a difference.”
Oliver also said he’s prepared to drop out of his engineering course at the University of Lincoln if a snap election is called in the next few months.
Caroline Kenyon – Lincoln
Caroline Kenyon will run again for Lincoln MP
Local entrepreneur Caroline, who runs an international business, has lived in Lincolnshire for over 20 years.
She believes Lincoln deserves “the best jobs, the best housing, the best transport” and “really has potential to be one of the very finest places in Britain to live”.
She said: ”I love Lincoln. I chose to move to the county from London over 20 years ago and to me, Lincoln is the best of cities – small, friendly and with so much to offer. But we all know it is a divided city, between those who have and those who do not.
“I have come to know it very much better over the last two years since the 2017 general election when I first stood.
“I was horrified to learn that there are eight food banks in the city and, as a result, set up the Lincoln Food Summit, a cross-party, multi-faith group to look at practical ways of tackling issues relating to food poverty.
“I have also been very pleased to help in several local campaigns, from Stop Veolia on Long Leys Road to the fight against the proposed animal rendering plant expansion in Skellingthorpe.”
Lincoln MP Karen Lee will stand again for Labour in the next elections.
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A local man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving after two pedestrians were injured in a collision with a car and three parked vehicles in Skegness.
Lincolnshire Police officers attended the scene after the collision between a blue Citroen Berlingo, the parked vehicles, and a man and a woman, who are both in their 60s, on Winthorpe Avenue shortly before 7pm on Friday, April 16.
The two pedestrians suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital. However, their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
A 63-year-old local man, who was driving the Berlingo, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving. He has since been released under investigation.
Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage and anyone with information should contact them on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting incident number 389 of April 16.
Few people attended the second Kill the Bill protest in Lincoln on Saturday, as Extinction Rebellion activists stood alone on the High Street to campaign against a proposed policing bill that could make many protests illegal.
Activists from Extinction Rebellion Lincolnshire gathered at Speakers’ Corner to oppose plans for the latest Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which could curtail protesting rights if passed through parliament.
Extinction Rebellion were the main representatives at the protest. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Under the proposed bill, police officers will be given greater powers to put a stop to any protests, as well as determining start and finish times for them, and controlling noise levels.
A few stopped to talk with the protestors, but most just went about their day walking down Lincoln High Street in the first weekend that non-essential shops and beer gardens reopened.
The Lincolnite spoke to one of the rebels at the protest, to find out the reasons behind the march.
They said: “This draconian bill cannot go ahead, it needs to be taken apart and re-evaluted completely.
“People have been walking past us shaking their heads, but they don’t realise that it’s their freedom we are fighting for.”
The Lincolnite photographer Steve Smailes captured some pictures from the protest.
Signs were put up by the works at Speakers’ Corner on Lincoln High Street. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A 19-year-old man is in hospital with serious injuries after a crash on the A52 on Friday evening.
The single-vehicle crash, involving a white Suzuki Splash, happened in the westbound lane of the A52 between Barrowby and Sedgebrook at around 7.20pm on Friday, April 16.
The driver of the car is now in hospital after suffering serious injuries, and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Officers believe the driver had travelled from Grantham on the A52 at Barrowby before the crash.
Anyone who has dashcam footage or saw the vehicle before the incident is being asked to call 101, quoting incident 420 of April 16.
Alternatively, you can email [email protected], using the same reference in the subject box.