A councillor on the Lancaster City Council cabinet has defected from the Morecambe Bay Independents to the Greens.
Councillor Martin Bottoms said he'd "realised that my values align with those of the Green Party".
Councillor Bottoms is the cabinet member for Morecambe regeneration and the local economy, on Lancaster City Council. He is also a Morecambe town councillor.
He was elected to both councils in 2023 for Bare, while representing the Morecambe Bay Independents (MBIs).
Councillor Bottoms becomes the first ever Lancaster city councillor or Morecambe town councillor to represent a Morecambe ward as a Green.
He has also become the Green group's 24th member on the city council.
They are the largest group and lead a coalition cabinet on the city council alongside the Liberal Democrats.
Councillor Bottoms was the lone MBI as part of this coalition and will remain in his cabinet role as a Green.
He became a cabinet member in November 2024, when the MBIs and Liberal Democrats agreed to work with Greens to form the administration of the council.
“I’ve enjoyed working closely with the Greens in our shared administration of the city council, and have realised that my values align with those of the Green Party," said Councillor Bottoms.
"We share a commitment to social equality, caring for nature and working hard to support local communities and businesses.”
Councillor Caroline Jackson, leader of the city council, said: “Martin is an incredibly dedicated councillor, representing the council or volunteering on around 30 different committees and community groups, and overseeing some exciting regeneration projects in Morecambe.
"We are delighted to welcome him to the Green Group, and look forward to working together even more closely in future."
The political composition of Lancaster City Council is now 24 Greens, 20 Labour, 7 Liberal Democrats, 5 Conservatives, 2 MBIs and 3 other Independents.
The MBIs remain the largest group on Morecambe Town Council with 11 councillors.
Councillor Bottoms is also currently the Lord Mayor of Bare village.
"We would like to thank Martin for his valuable contribution to the group," said a MBI spokesperson.
"It has been a pleasure working alongside him, and we are truly grateful for everything he has done.
"We wish him every success and happiness in his new role with the Green Party and extend our very best wishes for the future."
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