Ed Davey talks about his hopes for the party and what the Lib Dems can offer Cornwall ahead of May 1's Cornwall Council Elections (Credit: James Davies)
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00:00You might be aware Nigel Farage was in Cornwall on Monday and he was meeting reform candidates.
00:05And when speaking to him, I opened with the same sort of question.
00:07So I put to you, why should Cornish people put their faith in the Liberal Democrats?
00:12Because if they get a Liberal Democrat councillor that worked really hard for them, our candidates are from the community.
00:17And we tend to be the sort of people getting things done, getting things fixed.
00:20You don't have to take my words, but the leader of the Conservatives, Kenny Bader not, said in a recent interview
00:26that the Liberal Democrats are the sort of people who fix church roofs and the community like them.
00:31So I think you meant it as an insult, but we wear it as a badge of honour.
00:35And we're really proud of how our candidates and our party are from the community.
00:40Traditionally, we have been very strong in Cornwall.
00:43This area actually is a big two-horse race between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.
00:48And if people want to see the back of Conservatives-run Cornwall Council, it's the Liberal Democrat vote that's the power.
00:54And following a relatively successful general election for the Lib Dems in Cornwall,
00:59and your historic success in the county, are you confident going into these local elections?
01:05Well, of course, you're optimistic that we can make some gains from the Conservatives.
01:09People recognise that Conservatives not only did a very bad job nationally,
01:13but the Conservatives in Cornwall really run the council very badly.
01:17And I think Liberal has changed.
01:20And they know that Liberal Democrats are the ones who can provide that change.
01:24So we're finding out on doorsteps.
01:26I'm really grateful to people across Cornwall who've given our candidates and campaigners a really warm welcome.
01:32I want to thank them.
01:33And also for sharing their views.
01:35They've told us, for example, that the potholes and the road maintenance is a big issue.
01:39And that's causing a lot of people worries whether they're finding punctures in their cars,
01:43they haven't taken their cars to the garage and get mended because of the damage from the potholes.
01:48They're really worried that the budget has been badly managed here.
01:51And with the social care, a really big part of that budget, actually almost 50% are over, I believe,
01:58they need to know that it's a national party that's arguing for social care,
02:02and that is the Liberal Democrats, and that they've got new ideas how to help family carers.
02:08And the Liberal Democrats are going into this election with lots of ideas to improve care.
02:12You mentioned that you feel like it's a bit of a two-horse race between yourselves and the Conservative Party.
02:17Are you concerned at all about growing parties, you know, new parties such as reform in the area?
02:21Well, I think if people want good services, they want councillors who know the community and will be active,
02:28they need to look at the Liberal Democrats.
02:30We are the ones with the ideas, with the tradition, and I think they want a change in the county,
02:37and Liberal Democrats are the ones who can provide that.
02:40And should you win a majority within Cornwall Council, what are the Lib Dems' plans for May 2nd?
02:46Well, we want to make sure that the people at Cornwall's priorities are addressed.
02:51So I've mentioned we've been told on the doorstep by people that potholes are up,
02:55because you're going to have to find a way to make sure we can improve the road maintenance in the county.
03:01But issues like special education needs for disabled children, the services for them would be nowhere near good enough.
03:07And of course, adult social care for our elderly.
03:10We have an elderly population here, and obviously our disabled people here in the county,
03:14they've not been as well looked after as they should be.
03:17So those are the sorts of priorities.
03:19And of course, you would expect from the Liberal Democrats that we have a strong environment agenda as well.
03:24So today, I'm raising the issue of sewage and the poor performance of southwest water.
03:30Those are the sorts of issues that a council could really pressurise the water company to improve its performance.
03:37And how would you in sight change around things like southwest water's performance, sewage dumping from a council position?
03:43Well, I think the council would work, first of all, with the MPs, people like Ben Maguire in North Cornwall and Andrew George in St. Ives.
03:52They've already been piling on the pressure.
03:55And I think working with campaign groups, surfacing in sewage, for example, is one of the ways forward.
04:02What I specifically hope that the council can do is look at the big sewage works that there are across the county,
04:10you know, whether it's in places like Hale or Cameron, and there are a number of others that really could take with Brighton investment.
04:17And I think if we push the south west water together as the other way with that sort of investment,
04:23we get the infrastructure improved so we can reduce this forward.
04:27And finally, one of the issues that I've seen local Lib Dem candidates campaigning on is opportunities for young people within the county.
04:35And how would the Lib Dems create these opportunities?
04:38Well, actually, I would refer to the local Liberal Democrats.
04:41One thing I don't like doing is coming down to a place and saying, I know better.
04:45I don't.
04:46People at Cornwall and the representative they elect know better.
04:49We're a big believer in defolution and people like Ben Maguire and Andrew George are campaigning for more powers to run.
04:57And think about the solutions. I'm sure there will be less than youth services being built back very, very badly.
05:06But, you know, actually, I believe in the core solutions to the core mission use.
05:12And if you elect the majority Liberal Democrat-run council on May 1st,
05:17people will see a new party that's listening to people and finding those core solutions.