The leader of Knowsley’s opposition Liberal Democrat party is to leave the borough in the hopes of becoming a councillor in Liverpool.
Carl Cashman has represented Prescot ward in Knowsley since winning over 50% of the vote in his ward in 2016.
His election that year, one of three Liberal Democrats to be elected to Knowsley Council changed the political landscape – which had before then been entirely Labour dominated.
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The 30-year-old politician, who is leader of the Knowsley Liberal democrat group, announced on Twitter yesterday, September 26, his impending departure from Prescot in a tweet sharing a voice message from a constituent with the caption: “I’m not crying, you’re crying.”
Referring to a recent letter sent by Cllr Cashman confirming his planned departure, the voice message states: “So sad. You seem to have been the only councillor who was of any use to us. I don’t know, sorry to see you go but I do wish you all the best.”
The voice message was shared alongside a video which included a statement from Cllr Cashman, reading: “Dear Prescot. It’s been an honour and privilege to represent. Thank you for your support and kindness over the last six years.”
Commenting on the tweet, Liverpool Labour councillor Nick Small said: “So, the rumours are true. I wondered why I saw you pointing at a pothole on Woolton Road!”
Liverpool Liberal Democrat councillor Richard Klein said: “Look forward to working with you.”
Sharing the tweet, Knowsley Council’s leader of the opposition, Green councillor Kai Taylor said: “Will miss you in the council chamber x”.
Speaking to the ECHO about the move, Cllr Cashman said: “It’s quite straightforward. My work has taken me into Liverpool and my partner, my relationship is in Liverpool.
“It seems like the natural place to go and obviously next year with all out elections in Liverpool, I’ve been seeking selection there with the Lib Dems.”
He said he is still undergoing the ward selection process so does not yet have confirmation as to which ward he will be standing in.
Cllr Cashman, who is from Prescot and has previously been a town councillor as well as a metro mayor candidate, said of leaving Knowsley: “It’s sad, I’m not going to lie. I put a video on Twitter, it was one of my constituents’ voicemails and it’s a little bit hard to hear.
“I know I’ve done the right thing but it’s also tough as my political life has been here since I was 18.”
He said while he doesn’t expect the move to Liverpool to be “straightforward and simple” Mr Cashman added: “I wanted to challenge myself.”
He said: “In Liverpool, we’ve run the council in the past and want to run it again. I’m not in politics to be in opposition, I want to change things and think Liverpool is the opportunity to do that.
“I was 18 when I got involved in politics, I’m a local lad from a council estate and I have seen the effect that bad politics has on local people and how much people aren’t engaging.
“It swept me up when I was 18, I got involved and started campaigning politically and could see how much people needed a good councillor. It goes beyond that as well, people need a good local council, good MPs.
“People aren’t in politics for the right reasons sometimes.”
Cllr Cashman has confirmed he will continue in his current role and retain his Prescot seat until elections next May.
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