Macclesfield: A councillor for Pott Shrigley has quit the Conservatives, and affiliated herself with no political party.

Cllr Nicky Wylie, who also represents Poynton East as well as the Macclesfield parish of Pott Shrigley, has been a Cheshire East councillor for 32 months.

The Bollington resident was elected in May 2019, but feels she can't continue as a Conservative with the scandal currently shaking up Downing Street.

Whlie, who has worked in the NHS throughout the pandemic, has quit the Conservative party because of the national 'partygate' scandal.

Cllr Nicky Wylie, who represents Poynton East and Pott Shrigley, has issued a joint statement with the Cheshire East Conservative Group to say she had left the Tories 'in light of recent national events'.

She confirmed with the Local Democracy Reporting Service her decision is connected to reports regarding numerous parties allegedly held at Westminster and Downing Street during lockdown and said she had no issues at all with the Cheshire East Conservative group.

Conservative group leader Janet Clowes, who issued the statement on behalf of Cllr Wylie and the Cheshire East Conservative Group, said: "Cllr Wylie has carefully considered her position and I thank her for keeping me and her Conservative colleagues informed throughout her deliberations.

"Cllr Wylie has, from the outset of the pandemic, worked tirelessly in the NHS and with the vaccination programme, helping to protect the residents of Cheshire East. As such we understand and respect her decision in the light of recent national events.

"Cllr Wylie is a hard-working and committed councillor and she will continue to fulfil this role for her residents."

Cllr Wylie will remain on the council and is now a non-affiliated Independent councillor.

She was elected to Cheshire East in 2019 after former councillor Howard Murray (Con) decided not to stand again in that year's local elections.

While there are no Tories representing Macclesfield or Bollington, there are still some Conservatives in the Macclesfield area who are staying affiliated with the party currently embroiled in controversy.

Councillor Jos Saunders - who also represents Pott Shrigley - and Paul Findlow of Prestbury are the only remaining Cheshire East Conservatives who represent the Macclesfield area.

Wylie, who is a mum of five, can be followed on Twitter by clicking this link.

Her decision comes the day after another alleged party took place during Boris Johnson's birthday in June 2020.

30 people are said to have attended, but a No 10 spokesman says the PM does not believe he has broken any laws.

Macclesfield MP David Rutley has been contacted for comment.

See also: MP opens new Macclesfield Jobcentre Plus.

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