LIBERAL Democrats have chosen long-serving local councillor Ryk Downes as their candidate in the Leeds North West constituency for the upcoming General Election.

Leeds North West is a new constituency, bringing together Otley and Yeadon, Guiseley and Rawdon, Adel and Wharfedale, and Horsforth.

The shake-up comes after a boundary review in 2023, which aimed to make sure each constituency had a similar population. The Pudsey constituency - which previously included Aireborough and Horsforth - will effectively cease to exist when voters go to the polls on July 4.

Ryk said: "It's a great honour to have been chosen as a candidate to represent the diverse communities of Adel, Aireborough, Bramhope, Cookridge, Horsforth, Otley, and Pool. Despite this diversity, sometimes our area feels left out and I want to change that.

"I aim to get a fair deal for the new Leeds North West Constituency!

"This includes taking action to protect our rivers, campaigning for more doctors and dentists, demanding improvements to local transport services, investing in our schools, committing to ensuring the police visit every victim of crime, and protecting the pension triple lock which the Liberal Democrats introduced."

Ryk lives in the heart of the constituency with his wife Bev and dog Millie. Outside of politics, Ryk manages his own company which promotes and organises trail races and ultra marathons.

He is also a dedicated charity fundraiser who has raised over £50,000 by completing various challenges including the Pennine Way Run and the Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge.

In 2016 Ryk's  life was saved by a defibrillator. Since that life-changing day, he has helped raise money to supply seven public access defibrillators across the constituency and is a guardian of four, to ensure that we can keep saving lives in our community.

As reported in last week's Wharfedale Observer two other candidates contesting the Leeds North West seat in the General Election have officially launched their campaigns.

Katie White is standing for Labour and the Green candidate is Mick Bradley, who has been an Otley Town Councillor for more than nine years.

Other candidates who will be contesting the Leeds North West seat are Bob Buxton, of the Yorkshire Party, Kathy Bushell of the Social Democratic Party and Thomas Averre, of the Conservative and Unionist Party.

The final official candidate list will be published by June 7, 2024.