One of the candidates running to be Widnes and Halewood MP says he wants to help ‘shape the conversation’ at the general election.

David Coveney is contesting the seat for the Liberal Democrats against candidates from the Conservatives, Labour, Greens, Reform and Workers Party of Britain.

A contract software developer by trade, as a child he lived with his grandmother in her caravan on Halsnead Park in Whiston before moving to Widnes where he still lives. Originally from Liverpool, he has also worked and lived around the world in places like London, Paris, Brussels and Oxford. He has been involved with the Lib Dems since 2016 and said he can often be seen on litter picks in the local area.

He said: "I have two children at school and worked hard to be able to bring them up well, delaying parenthood as long as I could manage. I know how hard it can be for younger people who may want to establish a family and are often squeezed too much on income and housing costs. I can see how younger people struggle even more today than I did back then and I think it's a tragedy for the country and our economy."

He added: “And because my family is also part Spanish and part Polish I can see where people get a rough deal in this country. Healthcare, access to quality housing and to affordable recreation are particularly poor in the UK relative to our European neighbours but rarely talked about."

Election day on July 4 will see him also turn 55, but he conceded it was ‘unlikely’ he will be getting a birthday present of a job in Westminster. Instead, he said he wished to help shape the debate.

He said: “Realistically, I'm very unlikely to be the next MP for Widnes and Halewood, so my main aim of the campaign is to help shape the conversation towards helping the people who most need it.”

A full list of candidates can be found here:

Voters are reminded they must take photo ID to the polling station. A full list of acceptable ID can be found here.