Political shake-up in run-up to city election

ALL CHANGE IN THE MERRY GO ROUND OF LOCAL POLITICS

- By ALISON STEPHENSON Local Democracy Reporter

Patrick Nicholson and Terri Beer have left the Independent group

IT'S been a month of political comings and goings in Plymouth as the local election looms.

This week four Plymouth City Councillors have left the Independent group to go it alone - and it follows hot on the heels of the defection of member Cllr Steve Ricketts to Reform.

Leader of the Independent group Cllr Patrick Nicholson and his wife Cllr Sally Nicholson, both representing Plympton St Mary, along with Cllrs Terri Beer and Andrea Loveridge for Plympton Erle, have disassociated themselves from the group - but will remain independent.

This leaves Cllr Carol Ney (Southway) and Maddi Bridgeman (Moor View) as the only two members of the Independent group.

The group had previously held the same number of seats as the Conservatives - seven - so had been a main opposition party, challenging the 39-strong Labour majority on all sorts of issues.

Cllr Nicholson said he and his wife had left for personal reasons but would continue to represent the Plympton St Mary ward.

Cllr Beer said on her Facebook page: "Councillor Andrea Loveridge and I have been in discussion for some time about our future within the Independent group on Plymouth City Council.