Westmorland and Lonsdale

Boundary changes: loses Broughton-in-Furness and part of the Crake Valley to Barrow & Furness.

Profile: A large rural seat in Cumbria. The seat includes Kendal, Windermere, Sedbergh, Kirkby Lonsdale and Ambleside, but not the historic county town of Appleby-in-Westmorland. It also includes Lake Windermere, Coniston Water and much of the Lake District. The local economy is largely based on agriculture and tourism. In 2005 the Conservative shadow minister Tim Collins was defeated in the seat, the lone victim of what had been described as a Liberal Democrat decapitation strategy against Conservative frontbenchers in marginal seats.

Current MP: Tim Farron(Liberal Democrat) born 1970, Preston. Educated at Lostock Hall School and University of Newcastle. Unsuccesfully contested Westmorland & Lonsdale in 2001 prior to his election in 2005. Served briefly as Lib Dem spokesman for youth affairs before being appointed as PPS to Menzies Campbell after the 2006 leadership election. Countryside spokesman from 2007, he resigned in March 2008 to support a referendum on the Lisbon treaty (more information at They work for you)

2010 election candidates:
Gareth McKeever (Conservative) Executive Director at Morgan Stanley
Jonathan Todd (Labour) Born 1980, Whitehaven. Educated at Millom School and Durham University. Economist.
Tim Farron(Liberal Democrat) born 1970, Preston. Educated at Lostock Hall School and University of Newcastle. Unsuccesfully contested Westmorland & Lonsdale in 2001 prior to his election in 2005. Served briefly as Lib Dem spokesman for youth affairs before being appointed as PPS to Menzies Campbell after the 2006 leadership election. Countryside spokesman from 2007, he resigned in March 2008 to support a referendum on the Lisbon treaty (more information at They work for you)
John Mander (UKIP) born Ambleside. Educated at Oxford University. Former teacher and auctioneer. Contested Lancaster and Wyre 2005.