Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 8 January 2023

A BARWELL Parish Councillor has made it known that he will not be re-contesting his seat in the parish council elections this May, after years of service.

Barwell Parish Council’s Vice Chair, Coun. Mathew Hulbert (Lib Dem, Redhall Ward) exclusively informed the Hinckley Free Press of his decision not to stand in the elections ‘after much thought’.

One of the key reasons Mr. Hulbert cited was the passing of his mother, after she tragically passed away from sepsis two days after falling in her home last July.

Mr. Hulbert stressed he will remain a member of the Liberal Democrats, and he will continue to act as Diversity Officer for the Bosworth Lib Dems, stating: “I look forward to the important work of helping the local party become even more diverse”.

He said: “As I said in my letter to the local party Chair, this is a decision which I’ve come to after much thought.

“After the recent death of my dear Mum, this is a time of taking stock for me and thinking about what I want this next chapter of my life to look like and I think there are other ways in which I can serve and do public good.

“I thank the people of Barwell for the privilege of serving them at both Borough and Parish Council level from 2011 to 2015 and again on the Parish Council these past four years.”

He further added: “I’m proud of what I, along with the rest of the Lib Dem team, have been able to achieve on the Parish Council since 2019 – from getting new youth workers for the village, declaring a climate emergency, delivering Christmas food parcels for people facing a tough time, organising a cost-of-living advice day (which takes place next month) and much else besides.

“I also look forward to supporting Coun. Stuart Bray, Coun. Michael Mullaney, and the wider local party in their efforts to retain control of the Borough Council in May, win the parliamentary seat whenever the next general election is called, and continue to deliver for the people of Hinckley and Bosworth in the years ahead.

“Whether in elected office up until May, or out of it thereafter, I shall continue to campaign on issues that I care about – from the need to fix our broken health and care system and ensure ambulances consistently reach people in a timely manner, ensuring a properly funded and resourced youth service for all of our young people, fighting for LGBT+ rights, justice and equality, and doing all we can locally, nationally and globally to combat Climate Change, protect the environment and promote biodiversity.”

He concluded: “I’ll always be grateful to have had the support of friends and neighbours and their confidence to represent them in public office. It has been one of the greatest honours of my life.”