Pendle Insider: PROFILE Pendle & Clitheroe Candidate #4: Anna Fryer (Liberal Democrats)

WHO IS ANNA FRYER?

Anna Fryer is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Pendle & Clitheroe in the 2024 UK General Election. Anna grew up in Cumbria and lived in Chorlton, Manchester for 12 years before moving to Stretford, Manchester in 2018.

Anna has worked in the NHS for 20 years, currently as a Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. The role involves working with patients to improve their health and wellbeing, by addressing mental health problems within the general hospital setting. She is also an executive member of the Faculty of Liaison Psychiatry at the Royal College of Psychiatrists and has volunteered with a local homeless charity.

Anna has previously stood unsuccessfully as an election candidate in:

Local elections

2024 Longford: Trafford

2023 Hale Barns & Timperley South: Trafford

2019 Longford: Trafford

2018 Longford: Trafford

UK General election

2022 Stretford and Urmston:

2019 Stretford and Urmston:

2017 Stretford and Urmston:

European Parliament (UK) elections

2019 North West:

WHAT DOES SHE SAY?

“Growing up in Cumbria, my Mum and Dad were always encouraging us to look after others – no wonder my three other sisters also became Doctors and Teachers!”

Anna’s philosophy is simple - the reason I am standing is because I have spent 20 years working in the NHS and to make patients life better, we need more people like me with real experience in health in Parliament, who understand the NHS and patient care. The last few years in the NHS and Social Care have been a failure of Government. Quite simply our citizens have found the NHS has not been there for them when they needed it most.

This is not the fault of NHS workers but a choice by the Conservatives not to plan our services and staffing properly. It has been heartbreaking watching patients waiting in the Emergency Department for hours and even days. Patients face huge barriers in accessing care, be it difficulties seeing their GP or long waiting lists. This is a failure that this government should be ashamed of. A vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to save our NHS after years of Conservative chaos.

One issue that has been raised time and again by the people of Pendle and Clitheroe on the doorsteps is the horrifying conflict in the Middle East and the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.

Anna says “I have spoken to many people about this conflict, and the unimaginable horror facing civilians. I have been profoundly moved by our own Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran’s work and campaigning calling for an immediate, bilateral ceasefire. As the daughter of a Palestinian she has faced the trauma of supporting her family escape yet has spoken insightfully to understand both peoples.

As Liberal Democrats we have not sought to play political games and given in to the siren song of easy answers. Instead we have stood consistently and clearly for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the suffering of innocent civilians."

PENDLE INSIDER Q&A:

Pendle Insider sent questions to Anna but she chose not to answer and sent the statement below instead.

“It’s such an honour to be chosen to represent the Liberal Democrats in Pendle and Clitheroe. The country - and the NHS in particular - is in a sorry state after over a decade of Tory rule. The Conservative candidate - as Minister for Health and secondary care - has been instrumental expanding non-doctor roles, while failing to train, recruit and retain doctors. Simply put, this means more patients would be seeing non-doctors than ever before.

For voters the decision will be between the Conservative incumbent who has failed to deliver on fixing our broken NHS, and a respected NHS doctor who will stand up for patients and our community in Westminster. I am asking residents to support your NHS and back my campaign to be able to "see a doctor", and elect me as their next MP.

I’m frustrated that our community is being failed by the Conservatives. Families and businesses are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and the soaring inflation caused by the Conservatives. Our environment is being polluted by large companies who profit from the damage they cause and the government is doing nothing to stop it.

One issue that has been raised time and again by the people of Pendle and Clitheroe on the doorsteps is the horrifying conflict in the Middle East and the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.

I have spoken to many people about this conflict, and the unimaginable horror facing civilians. As Liberal Democrats we have stood consistently and clearly for an immediate bilateral ceasefire in Gaza, an end to the suffering of innocent civilians and the release of all hostages.

Working in the NHS for 20 years, my five-point mini-manifesto has saving our health service as a top priority. Liberal Democrats would ensure people can see their doctor and a dentist when they need to. Coupled with that, we would fix social care, including providing free personal care.

Tackling the cost-of-living crisis and building a strong economy is my second point. High energy bills and mortgage payments affect us all. Long-term, we need investment in jobs.

We will build a strong, fair economy that benefits everyone in the UK.

A Fair Deal For All is my next point. In a constituency with many diverse communities this is a key issue. A fair deal is at the heart of the Liberal Democrat manifesto. Towns and villages should not miss out on essential funding, and every individual should be treated fairly.

We should be lifting people out of poverty by removing the two-child cap; supporting pensioners with the triple-lock; Ensure that women born in the 1950s are finally treated fairly and properly compensated; and give unpaid carers the support they deserve by increasing and expanding Carer’s Allowance.

Policing is another priority. Liberal Democrats will restore proper community policing, with visible, trusted officers; guarantee that all burglaries will be attended and properly investigated; break the cycle of reoffending; and ensure survivors of violence against women and girls are properly supported in the criminal justice process.

Finally, as a doctor working in mental health, I want to see community mental health services expanded to include mental health workers in every school, local mental health hubs, and everyone being able to see their GP when they need to."

WHAT ELSE DOES SHE SAY?

June 30 - Facebook

"I come from a farming family (cousins now, uncles, grandfather and generations before). The rural community in Pendle and Clitheroe is under huge pressure from increasing costs and huge reductions in farming payments. They have been hugely let down by this government. The dissatisfaction from the farming community has led to many changing their political affiliation from the Conservatives.

Voters I have spoken are impressed when they see the Libdems have a clear plan and comprehensive policies to help the rural community."

June 23 - Facebook

"I have had quite a lot of emails regarding the WASPI women. The state pension age was equalised for men and women at 65 and the 2011 Pensions Act brought forward the change.

The Lib Dem position is we would ensure that women born in the 1950s are finally treated fairly and properly compensated for the accelerated change in the pension age for women. It is manifestly unfair that there has been delay after delay. Even after an ombudsman ruling on this, the government have yet to pay a penny.

Additionally, we would support pensioners by protecting the triple lock so that pensions always rise in line with inflation, wages or 2.5% – whichever is highest."

June 23 - Facebook

"The Tory incumbent I am up against has expanded Physician associate roles, gone back on promises of big expansion to training homegrown doctors, and has failed to meaningfully speak to junior doctor to stop the strikes.

The NHS works best with a range of professionals who have specific roles and strengths. But the doctor as part of that team is vital. This government seems to want to reduce medicine to providing oversight of lesser trained staff. It’s simply not good quality care. And it’s certainly not want patients or doctors want."

PARTY POLICIES: