I'm Stephen Claffey, a dad, business leader and parish councillor, standing as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Great Paxton Ward.
I'm standing because local life matters. Safer roads. Stronger village services. Clearer answers on how the system works. And proper follow-through when something needs pushed.
A few years ago, I was crossing the road in the village with my son Zech and our dog Hamish, and a car came through at serious speed. It was a near miss, but it was enough. I realised that if we want safer streets and a stronger village life, we have to step up and do the work.
Since then, I have focused on practical action. Not talk. Not point scoring.
I already serve on Great Paxton Parish Council. Alongside that, my professional background is in leading businesses, working through systems, budgets, delivery and governance, and helping people make sense of complicated things. I bring that same mindset into local public life.
I am standing for Huntingdonshire District Council as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Great Paxton Ward because I want to help make local government understandable, relevant, and worth voting for.
This district ward covers six villages. If you live in any of them, this election helps decide who speaks for your area at district level.
People across the ward are choosing a practical local voice, not Reform, not the Conservatives.
I want to build on existing Liberal Democrat representation locally, keep continuity at district level, and strengthen joined-up support across the ward.
The key vote here is for district councillor for Great Paxton Ward. Depending on where you live, and whether your local parish election is contested, you may also have a parish or town council vote on the same day. County council, the Mayor and Combined Authority, and Parliament all matter, but they are not the main election taking place now.
This is the election I am standing in, as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Great Paxton Ward.
This ward already has Liberal Democrat representation at district, county and parliamentary level.
James is stepping back from the district seat. I have agreed to stand so that we can keep that continuity going and build on momentum that has been missing from district and county representation for decades.
Part of good local representation is explaining the system clearly. Different problems sit in different places. Here is the straightforward version.
This is the strategic county layer and handles many of the services people ask about most.
This works differently. There is one elected mayor, plus broad representation linked across district and county councils.
This is Westminster, where national law, tax and wider government policy are decided.
Parish councils are village-based, not ward-wide. They are about local representation, local projects, and helping push the right issues up the chain.
I currently serve on Great Paxton Parish Council. That means listening to residents, helping shape local priorities, supporting local projects, and pushing the right authorities when village issues need action.
Great Paxton Ward includes six villages. They do not all share one parish council. Other villages in the ward have their own parish or town councils, each focused on their own local issues and local voice.
Parish work is about village spaces, local amenities, community projects, small grants, and making sure residents are heard. It also means knowing when an issue needs to be escalated to district or county level.
This is the role I am standing for. A district councillor represents the whole ward, helps residents navigate district services, and pushes issues that affect people across multiple villages. These are not just isolated wins, they reflect a wider Liberal Democrat record of action across the ward, backed by joined-up work with James Catmur, Sarah Caine and Ian Sollom.
I helped build and back the Local Highways Improvement bid for traffic calming on the B1043, because safer streets should not be optional.
I have supported and helped sustain the community village shop, adding practical support, visibility and momentum where it was needed.
I wrote and secured two £5,000 grants, one for better street lighting and safer routes, and one for the community shop as part of the volunteer team.
I supported the Great Gransden 20mph scheme and chicane, helping back practical measures that slow traffic and improve village safety.
I supported the Waresley 20mph bid, which was awarded, showing the value of joined-up evidence and persistence.
I helped push the Toseland postbox replacement issue through, because small village infrastructure still matters when it affects daily life.
I backed continuation of bus No. 18 and worked on route 65, because villages cannot thrive if people are cut off from work, school, healthcare and everyday life.
A district councillor has to think across all six villages, not just one. That means understanding different local priorities and making sure no village feels overlooked.
For me, this is the job. Listen properly. Act on what you can. Push the right people. Keep going. Try to leave things better than you found them.
The flyer map helps show the bigger picture. Great Paxton, Toseland, Great Gransden, Abbotsley and Waresley all have visible examples of practical Liberal Democrat action, whether that is transport, traffic, grants, village services or local problem-solving.
That matters because the district role is not about one village. It is about understanding the full ward, bringing together local knowledge, and making sure every parish feels represented.
This page reflects that same principle, keep what works locally, then scale the effort across the whole ward.
Social proof matters. Quite naturally, people want to know whether those who know you believe you will turn up and do the job.
Stephen cares about his community and has shown that by working hard with his parish council to improve services. This has included working to improve road safety and bus services, as well as the normal parish issues of bins, grass mowing and planning.
Stephen already works hard for Great Paxton as a parish councillor, backing the shop, road safety and village priorities. He cares deeply because he lives here too. He gets involved, follows through, and I believe he will make a real difference for our community.
Stephen is a truly dedicated and community-minded individual. He has the positivity, resilience and communication skills to drive real change. Stephen is a person of integrity and is committed to making our lives better. This is why I'll be voting for him.
I'm voting for Stephen Claffey, not because of his politics, but because of his commitment, hard work and track record of getting things done as a parish councillor. I have absolutely no doubt that he will bring the same qualities to the entire ward.
Stephen Claffey has been an active part of our community for years. He is genuinely invested in making this a better place to live, involving himself in numerous activities and initiatives for the betterment of all residents. He is the kind of person we need to represent us on the district council.
Stephen Claffey is a dedicated family man who genuinely cares about our community. He works tirelessly, always showing up when our village needs him most. His commitment, reliability and passion make him the right choice to represent and support local people.
Stephen is a passionate and active member of the local community who understands the issues important to those living and working in the area. He has worked hard for years to make a difference, and I am confident that by voting for him we will accelerate progress across all issues affecting the everyday lives of those in our community.
Local elections are often decided by very small numbers. Your vote carries more weight than you might think.
If you want someone who will explain how it works, push every level that matters, and get things moving locally, I would be grateful for your vote.
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Promoted by A VandeWeyer on behalf of Stephen Claffey (Liberal Democrats) all at 15 Ronald Rolph Ct Cambridge CB5 8PX
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