BARONESS HARRIS of Richmond visited York to help launch the Liberal Democrat social services manifesto - and met up with the politician who signed her up to the party 30 years ago.

David Livesley, Liberal Democrat candidate for Bishopthorpe, was the person who introduced the Baroness, the former chairman of North Yorkshire Police Authority, to the old Liberal Party three decades ago. The pair had not seen each other since then, until their reunion on Saturday.

The Baroness, a former North Yorkshire County Councillor, helped to launch the manifesto for this week's local elections.

She also took the opportunity to call on Bishopthorpe resident Edgar Linins, who has had the services of carers since 1945.

The key manifesto points were:

To strengthen support for carers to include entitlement to respite and training

To provide a network of community helpers through funding to the voluntary sector

To work in partnership with others to raise the profile of and esteem of those working in the caring professions

To increase support for preventative health measures, such as "Walking your way to health" and "green gyms"

To avoid delayed discharges from hospital through closer and more integrated working with health partners.

Councillor Sue Galloway, the Liberal Democrat spokesman for health and social services, said: "Against a backdrop of shrinking or ring-fenced budgets, we will have to work harder and more imaginatively to come up with real choices for residents in the future, especially the elderly whose numbers and needs will grow over the next few years."

Updated: 11:00 Monday, April 28, 2003