Two councillors leave Wyre Alliance over 'different views' on party

Councillors Rachel George and David Gerrard, who represent Fleetwood seats on Wyre Council, are now registered as Wyre Residents members.

Both councillors insist there has been no falling out with the Wyre Alliance group and say they left because they hold different views from where the party is heading.

The Alliance was founded in April last year by a group of Wyre councillors who had previously been Brexit party representatives.

The group has now voted in a new leader, Adam Diver, who said the party was looking to expand to other areas of Wyre instead of solely concentrating on Fleetwood.

The departures followed the latest meeting of the Alliance party.

Coun George, who represents Fleetwood's Pharos ward on Wyre and is also a Fleetwood Town Council member, first became a Labour councillor in 2017 before defecting to the then Brexit group.

She said: "The Wyre Alliance is looking to expand beyond Fleetwood and to County level as well - we are looking at a more local approach.

"There wasn't a big dramatic split and I will still be working with them on local issues.

"I don't think there should be party politics at local level and that's where my interests are - I'm not going to stand as a county councillor."

The Wyre Residents name may be causing confusion given its more local ethos, but Coun Gerrard, who represents Rossall ward, said: "We want to concentrate on Fleetwood residents from a Wyre Council perspective, it's as simple as that.

"I have no interest in being a career politician, I just want to represent my home town.

"I believe in talking Fleetwood up and I see my role as doing that as a local councillor.

"The Wyre Alliance is looking beyond that so we have left but there is no ill feeling."

The move leaves Wyre Alliance with three Fleetwood councillors on Wyre Council and another member on Fleetwood Town Council.

Mr Diver said: "They left of their own free will, they were not asked to leave.

"Our aim is to concentrate on every single part of Wyre, including Fleetwood, and not be pinpointed to one area."

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