So the Liberal Democrats did well in Tatton - though not well enough to win

The Conservative party used to be the party of business. This was obvious.  It preached low taxes and minimal regulation (perhaps too low and too minimal for some), and it was also the fiscally responsible party reluctant to let the government spend more than its income, and intent on providing an economic environment where industries could make decent profits by providing goods or services to UK citizens, or by exporting them abroad.

Speaking after his fact-finding guided tour of the Longridge/Downs Greenbelt by leading campaigner John Finnan, Jonathan said:

Three days on from the BBC Question Time ‘Special’, it has become increasingly clear that there was a lack of journalistic rigour and integrity with the whole programme.

One of the most hotly-argued set of issues, relating to Brexit, has been the potential impact on farming of either staying in, or leaving the EU.

In order to be properly informed, Jonathan took the opportunity to visit a local beef farm and listen to the concerns of the farmer, whose family has been farming in that area for generations, and who has an in-depth insight into the challenges faced by the Cheshire farming community.

At this moment of huge risk for the planet due to climate change, and guided by local experts and activists, who are keen to realise the full potential of the Moss to educate and inform the next generations, Jonathan went on a fact-finding visit to this remarkable landscape in our midst.

Responding to concerns expressed by parents and rail users at a recent meeting of the Mid-Cheshire Rail-Users Association, Jonathan and his team went to see for themselves what the concerns were regarding large numbers of school children using the two-carriage train service between Knutsford and Greenbank.

Town Councillor Birgitta Hoffman has been pressing Cheshire East over the vandalised bus shelters

It's a matter of historical record.

Jonathan Smith, Liberal Democrat Candidate for Tatton, attended a public meeting of the East Cheshire NHS Trust Board this week. As a former NHS Chief Executive himself, Jonathan said that he wanted to really listen and learn, from those with direct responsibility for services, about the major challenges they face: “Whilst I have long experience as a very senior manager and leader in both health and social care, I need to understand the particular issues faced by this local Trust, so that they inform my campaign priorities, and any statements that I make.”