Wrexham’s only Welsh Liberal Democrat councillor joins Independent Group

Marford and Hosely’s councillor has joined Wrexham’s ruling administration.

Cllr Blackmore stood, and won, as a Welsh Liberal Democrat in the local council elections back in May receiving 481 votes, beating the only other candidate who scored 373. Cllr Blackmore was the only winning Welsh Liberal Democrat in the elections.

However Cllr Blackmore was previously ‘unaligned’ on Wrexham Council, due to the numbers needed to be a formal group.

Wrexham Council Leader Mark Pritchard told us, “I am very pleased that Cllr Beryl Blackmore has chosen to join the Independent Group.”

“Beryl is an experienced Councillor with a wealth of knowledge and we warmly welcome her to the Group.”

In our electoral Q&A sent to every single candidate, we asked a question about future group alignment for those standing under the banner of a party or standing as independents. “When the public view the Full Council meeting in June, do you envision you could be part of a Party, Group or coalition, and if so, specifically who and why?”

Cllr Blackmore answered: “I support the Principals of the Welsh Liberal democrats ,I have to be realistic and know they could not win enough seats to be overall in charge.

“If I am chosen to be a County Councillor this May I would need to see who else is elected and make a decision based on the qualities of the various Groups.”

Wrexham Council has 56 local councillors and this move means the Independent Group now has 22 members, strengthening its position as the largest group in the council.

They are by far the biggest partner in the ruling administration alongside the Conservatives who are back to the full 9, after Cllr Williams is now listed once again under their banner.

There are two remaining unaligned councillors on Wrexham Council, Cllr Mike Davies and Cllr Ronnie Prince.