Edge Rewrite
restyle Source code View original
// HTMLRewriter · presentation

This page was redesigned at the edge.

Cloudflare fetched the original article and streamed it through HTMLRewriter to apply an entirely new visual system without rebuilding the source page.

Jump to content

Carl Cashman

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cllr
Carl Cashman
Cashman at Young Liberals Summer Conference in 2025
Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Liverpool City Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
2023
Preceded byRichard Kemp
Liverpool City Council Councillor for Church
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 May 2023
Preceded byRichard Kemp
Councillor for Prescot North on Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
In office
May 2016 – 2023
Personal details
BornOctober 1991 (age 34)
Liverpool, England
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
France
PartyLiberal Democrats
Alma materUniversity of Liverpool
OccupationPolitician
Mortgage broker
Websitewww.carlcashman.org

Carl Cashman is an English–French[1] politician who has served as the councillor for Church ward on the Liverpool City Council since 2023. He also serves as the leader of the Liverpool Liberal Democrats, the second largest party group on the city council, making him leader of the opposition on the Liverpool City Council.[2][3]

A former councillor on Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, he previously ran for election as Mayor of the Liverpool City Region in 2017, and as MP for Knowsley in 2015 and 2017.[4][5]

Early life

[edit]

Cashman is from the Liverpool City Region. Born to an English-French mother, Cashman holds French citizenship from his mother alongside his British citizenship.[6] He has described growing up in a council house in Liverpool with his grandparents, whom he credits with shaping his values.[7] He attended St Francis Xavier's College, Liverpool[8] and the University of Liverpool, where he received a joint honours degree in philosophy and politics,[9] and was taught by Stuart Wilks-Heeg.[10][11]

Career

[edit]

Cashman was first elected to Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council for Prescot North in May 2016, receiving 1,254 votes (50.5%).[12] He was also elected for Knowsley Park North on Knowsley Town Council in October 2016, standing down in 2018.[13][14] He was re-elected to Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council in 2021 with 1,448 votes (60.8%).[15]

Cashman stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the parliamentary constituency of Knowsley at the 2015 and 2017 general elections, finishing fourth on both occasions with 1,490 votes (2.9%) in 2015 and 1,189 votes (2.1%) in 2017. He resigned his council seat in 2023 to contest Liverpool City Council's Church ward,[16] where he was elected with 1,165 votes (55.4%).[17] Outside politics, Cashman works as a mortgage broker.[18]

Local party leadership

[edit]

Cashman was formerly the leader of the Knowsley Liberal Democrats.[16] He is the current leader of the Liverpool city branch of the party,[19] a position he has held since 2023.[20] He succeeded former leader Richard Kemp after an 11-year tenure as leader of the Liverpool Liberal Democrats.[21]

In July 2025, Cashman said that his ambition was to lead Liverpool City Council,[22] and has argued that the city's local Liberal Democrats had built the membership, organisation and campaigning infrastructure needed to challenge Labour's dominance on the council.[23]

Mayoral candidacy

[edit]

Cashman ran against Steve Rotheram in the 2017 Liverpool City Region mayoral election. He received 19,751 votes, 6.8% of the total, coming third.[24] His policies including the foundation of a representative office for Liverpool in Brussels, support for EU membership, protecting green spaces and removing tolls for Liverpool's tunnels.[25][26]

Views

[edit]

Cashman has described himself as a liberal and progressive, arguing that Liberalism should be viewed as distinct from the traditional left–right political spectrum. He has also expressed support for mutual and cooperative ownership and said he would not rule out standing for Parliament again – although he emphasised his commitment to local government in Liverpool.[27]

He has described priorities for Liverpool as increasing council housebuilding, addressing homelessness and temporary accommodation, improving street cleanliness and giving residents a greater voice in their communities.[28] He has also advocated policies aimed at tackling deprivation through increased investment in housing and local communities, arguing that Liverpool City Council should play a greater role in improving living conditions and expanding opportunities for residents.[29]

Media attention

[edit]

Cashman received media attention for his appearance and has been dubbed "Britain's sexiest politician".[30] He was the subject of an American right-wing Twitter discussion garnering millions of views, wrongly labelling him 'Conservative Chad'.[31] Cashman responded in an interview with The Tab, saying:

If it strengthens the liberal cause, and puts the lens on my city – and its incredibly good looking population – then I'll take that. As for calling me a normie Conservative Chad, I couldn’t be further from that. I'm what he would call a lefty liberal, his worst nightmare!

In July 2026, Cashman appeared on the cover of LGBTQ magazine Attitude.[32] In 2025, he was interviewed on his personal life and politics by drag queen Tiara Skye in Soho.[33] In July 2026, Cashman told Attitude that the Liberal Democrats were "fiercely pro-trans rights", reaffirmed his support for the LGBTQ+ community, and discussed his work promoting "positive masculinity" among young men.[34]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Robledo, Jordan (2025-03-20). "Drag superstar Tiara Skye talks politics with the 'UK's sexiest politician' Carl Cashman". Gay Times. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  2. ↑ "Councillor details - Councillor Carl Cashman". councillors.liverpool.gov.uk. 2025-10-16. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  3. ↑ "Tougher action on Illegal E-Bikes, say Lib Dem Leader". www.liverlibdems.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  4. ↑ "Election result for Knowsley (Constituency) - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament". members.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  5. ↑ "Election result for Knowsley (Constituency) - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament". members.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  6. ↑ Robledo, Jordan (2025-03-20). "Drag superstar Tiara Skye talks politics with the 'UK's sexiest politician' Carl Cashman". Gay Times. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  7. ↑ Hulbert, Mathew (11 October 2025). "Mathew meets…..Carl Cashman Part 1: the early years". Liberal Democrat Voice. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Get to know Liverpool Lib Dem leader @carlcashman91". Attitude Magazine. 15 July 2026. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Philosophy and Politics BA (Hons) | Courses | University of Liverpool". www.liverpool.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  10. ↑ "Professor Stuart Wilks-Heeg | Our people | University of Liverpool". www.liverpool.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  11. ↑ "Stuart Wilks-Heeg". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  12. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project - 2016 - Knowsley". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  13. ↑ "Election of Councillor for the Knowsley Park North Ward of Knowsley Town Council: Declaration of Result of Poll" (PDF). Knowsley Council. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  14. ↑ Brown, Faye (20 July 2018). "Politician dubbed 'one of Britain's hottest' loses council post while partying in Spain". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Prescot North Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  16. 1 2 "Prescot councillor and Lib Dem Knowsley leader to leave borough". St Helens Star. 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
  17. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project - 2023 - Liverpool". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  18. ↑ "NewRegister". register.fca.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  19. ↑ Thorp, Liam (2023-05-10). "31-year-old becomes new Liverpool Lib Dem opposition leader". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  20. ↑ Thorp, Liam (10 May 2023). "31-year-old becomes new Liverpool Lib Dem opposition leader". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  21. ↑ Thorp, Liam (9 May 2023). "Veteran Liverpool Liberal Democrat leader Richard Kemp to stand down as group chief". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  22. ↑ Humphreys, David (26 July 2025). "Lib Dem chief says he expects to run Liverpool Council in 2027". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  23. ↑ Whistance, Abi (23 May 2024). "Topless pics and a baptism of fire: An hour with Liverpool Lib Dem leader Carl Cashman". The Liverpool Post. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  24. ↑ "Pugh welcomes Lib Dem nomination for Metro Mayor". Archived from the original on 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  25. ↑ "Liverpool City Region mayoral election: Candidates spell out key policies". BBC News. 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
  26. ↑ Cashman, Carl (28 March 2017). "2017 Manifesto for Mayor of the Liverpool City Region" (PDF). Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  27. ↑ Hulbert, Mathew (12 October 2025). "Mathew meets…Carl Cashman Part 2: My Lib Dem life". Liberal Democrat Voice. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  28. ↑ Hulbert, Mathew (15 October 2025). "Mathew meets: Carl Cashman Part 3 – A Lib Dem vision for Liverpool". Liberal Democrat Voice. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  29. ↑ "In Conversation with… Cllr Carl Cashman". YouTube. Downtown in Business. 28 May 2026. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  30. ↑ PoliticsJOE (2023-08-16). Is this Britain's sexiest politician? | Pubcast with Lib Dem Councillor Carl Cashman. Retrieved 2025-10-16 – via YouTube.
  31. ↑ Brocklehurst, Harrison (2025-09-26). "I'm Carl Cashman: The sexy Scouse politician the U.S. far right are calling a 'Conservative Chad'". The Tab. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  32. ↑ Humphreys, David (2026-07-02). "Liverpool Lib Dem leader becomes LGBTQ magazine cover star". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2026-07-14.
  33. ↑ Robledo, Jordan (2025-03-20). "Drag superstar Tiara Skye talks politics with the 'UK's sexiest politician' Carl Cashman". Gay Times. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  34. ↑ Sugg, Aaron (2026). "Carl Cashman vows Lib Dems are 'fiercely pro-trans rights'". Attitude. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carl_Cashman&oldid=1368747175"