The chairman of Morecambe Town Council has announced he has left the Morecambe Bay Independent group to join Reform UK.
Councillor Russell Walsh said he has switched to Reform so he can stand for them in the upcoming Lancashire County Council elections.
Councillor Walsh, a well-known businessman in Morecambe, was elected chair of Morecambe Town Council for a year in May 2024.
The former Morecambe High School pupil, who runs Directors Cutz barbers in Bare and for many years owned Potts Pies in the local area, was elected to the town council in May 2023 and represents Bare North.
"You can’t be in two parties at once so I have had to move over," Councillor Walsh told Beyond Radio.
"I want to do more for Morecambe (especially with devolution) and feel to be at county level is logical.
"But rest assured Morecambe is still my focus on local issues.
"There is no animosity with the MBIs at all, just they wouldn’t get involved at county level.
"I would hope my record as chair speaks louder than other parties' disagreements on national issues which have no bearing at town council level.
"I’m determined to still be a voice for local issues, especially regarding the Frontierland Steering Group to ensure it’s developed to the benefit of Morecambe with no housing and something to attract tourists to stay, especially in consideration with Eden coming and the amazing work being done at the Winter Gardens."
Councillor Geoff Knight, leader of the Morecambe Bay Independents, said: “The Morecambe Bay Independents (MBIs) consider that party politics should not be an issue on Morecambe Town Council and the main focus should be to act in the town’s best interest.
"However, when it became clear that a member cannot belong to two political parties at the same time Russell made the decision to step down from the Morecambe Bay Independents (MBIs).
"I’d like to put on record that he left on good terms and I believe we can continue to work amicably for the good of Morecambe.
"It is normal for members to occasionally come and go but the residents of the town can rest assured that the Morecambe Bay Independents will always have Morecambe’s best interests at heart.”
The MBIs remain the largest group on the town council, but no longer have an overall majority.
They won 14 of 26 seats at the 2023 local elections, but now have 12 seats with the departure of Councillor Walsh and Councillor Brett Cooper, who resigned from the town council in January.
Labour has seven, the Liberal Democrats four, with one independent and one Reform.
The Torrisholme ward is vacant, following Councillor Cooper's resignation.
An election will take place on Thursday May 1, and the notice of election will be posted on Friday.
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