Exclusive: Tim Farron talks councils, mayors and Starmer

We asked the MP about matters such as local council budgets, his views on the upcoming Cumbrian mayoral race and his take on Sir Keir Starmer’s time in office so far, as well as much more.

Tim Farron has been the Member of Parliament for Westmorland and Lonsdale since 2005. He has not only led his party, but he also, for a period, served as its President during its time in government in coalition with the Conservatives. Although he has held many varying portfolios in Westminster over the years, he told this newspaper that it is the issues of people in his constituency that still drive him on to continue in the job, despite the pressures of elected life.

When we sat down with the well-known local parliamentarian in his Kendal constituency office on a rare sunny Cumbrian afternoon, Mr Farron appeared friendly and relaxed, but, nevertheless, busy. A visit to Bowness to speak to local hospitality leaders followed his chat with The Gazette – there was no time to waste.

Mr Farron seen at his desk at his Kendal constituency office (Image: Tom Cockburn)

Councillors from your party, the Liberal Democrats, currently run Westmorland and Furness Council. The council recently passed its budget for 2026/27. As part of that budget, Lib Dem councillors forced through many unfavourable charge increases, such as a maximum rise to council tax. The budget was self-described by a key party councillor as ‘enforced austerity’ due to government cuts to the council’s funding. But do you not think that ‘blame game’ rhetoric wears thin with some voters?

“Absolutely, you do not want to be one of those people who are always making excuses. Obviously, everybody locally is right to be angry that the government has changed the way it funds local councils to disadvantage rural communities – we got a 31 per cent cut to funding – and we are the most rural authority in England.

“I would encourage my Lib Dem colleagues on the council to protect the most vulnerable, protect our communities, and when you make decisions that you do not like, do not pretend you like them.”

Councillor Andrew Jarvis, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for finance, addressing the meeting of full council to discuss the 2026/27 budget at Kendal Town Hall in February (Image: Tom Cockburn)

Mr Farron later said, with a cup of coffee in hand, whilst we were sitting on the top floor of his office building: “Whatever happens, my job is to defend the people, not the council.”

Do constituents’ frustrations with some of the Lib Dem Council’s decisions whilst in office worry you in terms of your own chances at the ballot box at the next General Election? Might voters decide to take their frustrations out on you?

“My job is to serve my community well and to work hard and listen to people. It is to challenge the council when I do not agree with it, just like when I challenge the government, the national park, and everybody else. My job is not to be the council’s mouthpiece to the people or the government’s mouthpiece to the people. It is to be the people’s representative to the council, to the government, and everybody else.

“It is my belief that if I serve my community well, immerse myself in it, and love them to death, whilst taking on the issues that they and I care about, like successfully saving the Coniston GP Surgery, trying to keep Junction 38 of the M6 open, and trying to bring more cancer services to Kendal, then people will tend to support those who have served them. That is my focus.”

Libby Bateman, Lib Dem candidate for the Cumbria mayoral elections, and Tim Farron (Image: Cumbria Liberal Democrats)

Next year will see the first Cumbrian Combined Authority Mayoral elections. But do you think the region actually needs a mayor?

“I have gone from complaining mode to ‘oh well, we are getting it now, roll your sleeves up and make the best of it’ mode. No form of government is perfect, or even very good often, but nevertheless, if it is happening, let’s get the best for Cumbria out of it.”

You have been working closely with the Lib Dems’ candidate in the election, Libby Bateman. Do you believe she has a real chance of success when outside of your constituency, Labour currently dominates more urban areas of the region, and Reform UK are gaining in popularity?

Mr Farron called Labour’s brand ‘toxic’ and the Conservatives ‘irrelevant’ in the election but he is taking the threat from Reform UK seriously.

On his party’s chances, he said: “It is not just Westmorland and Lonsdale where we have strength. You must remember that there is that northern part of the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency in Cumbria, formerly my patch. You have got Penrith and Eden, as well as all the way up to Carlisle, where we have got great strength. We have got strength in parts of Carlisle itself too.

“So, bear in mind there will be a five-way fight, you will not need 50 per cent of the vote to win. And I think as people become increasingly aware that the only candidate who can seriously beat Reform is Libby and the Lib Dems, then I think we will grow in strength in other parts of the region. We are determined to win.”

Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader, holds a pint at the White Hart during a campaign visit to Denby Dale in Kirklees (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

So far, the candidates announced to be standing in next year’s election are David Allen (Labour), Libby Bateman (Liberal Democrats) and Mike Starkie (Conservative).

It is expected that other parties will announce their candidates in the coming months.

Moving on to national politics now, how would you rate Sir Keir Starmer’s time in office so far?

“I am somebody who wants my Prime Minister to do well, even if they do not belong to my party. I thought Keir Starmer was actually a very effective leader of the opposition, holding the PM of the day to account. I think he did quite a good job at making his party electable again after the Jeremy Corbyn era. But I think he has been a terrible PM, and it seems to be because he has not had a plan.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer delivers a speech during a reception marking St George's Day at Downing Street in London (Image: Phil Noble/PA Wire)

You have been an MP for over 20 years. During that time, you have seen your party in government, you have led it, you have been its President, and you have held many portfolios too, but do you still enjoy the job as much as when you were first elected?

“If I am honest, I probably enjoy the job more. I am in a wonderful position of being post-ambitious – I have no desire to be party leader [again].

“I feel a bit sorry for those MPs who are ambitious to become party leader or PM, because that can suck a lot of your energy and your will to live.

“Dare I say, I have found what I love, which is to serve Westmorland and Lonsdale. It is to try to be effective, to try and bring people together, and use what influence I have to make people’s lives better.”

So, there’s no sign of you calling time on your political career any time soon then?

“I am not planning a retirement. The electorate might plan to retire me – that is up to them. The thing to remember about this role is, you are borrowing the job – you have no right to win.”