Maria was elected to represent University Ward on Lancaster City Council at a by-election in July 2024. She listened to the concerns of students on campus and then campaigned on the concerns they had raised: the cost of living crisis, lack of mental health services, the Palestine encampment, student safety and Net Zero targets.
Maria is a History and Politics student at Lancaster University with a passion for politics and giving back to the local community. She moved to Lancaster from Birmingham and has fallen in love with all that the area has to offer.
At Sixth Form, Maria was a member of the student council and was a key player in organising and staffing numerous charity fundraisers which in total raised thousands of pounds for various charities. She has also been a volunteer for the Mind charity, working in one of their charity shops helping to raise money and awareness for mental health conditions, ensuring that no one has to face mental health struggles alone, a message she hopes to push further through both the political system and through her degree.
Maria is a firm believer in the ideas and values of the Green Party and feels that as a Councillor she can put these ideas of climate action and support for the local community into practice while also being a voice for young people, a group so often overlooked in politics.
To contact Councillor Deery, email – mdeery@lancaster.gov.uk