A colleague of Congleton Conservatives has quit representing the party at Cheshire East Council.

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

She was one of 32 Cheshire East Councillors which represented the Conservative party.

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

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

Cllr Nicky Wylie, 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 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.

Cheshire East Councillor Mike Benson, who is group secretary of Cheshire East Members and chair of Congleton Conservative Constituency Association responded to Wylie's move.

He told Congleton Nub News he was aware of the joint statement.

"It's a personal decision and there is nothing I want to add," said Cllr Benson.

Of the six Congleton Cheshire East councillors, three of them are Conservatives.

Congleton Nub News has contacted David Brown of Congleton East for further comment. As well as Congleton West's Sally Holland and George Hayes.

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.

Congleton MP Fiona Bruce has been contacted for comment.

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