Councillor goes from Labour, to Lib Dems and now Tories... after flirting with Brexit Party

A FORMER Labour councillor who caused a stir last year by announcing she was ending her short tenure with the Lib Dems to join The Brexit Party has hooked up with the Conservatives.

Coun Kath Nickson - who most recently sat as an independent has been confirmed as the newest member of Rochdale council’s Tory group.

It means that, since being elected in May 2014, the Balderstone and Kirkholt councillor has represented three political parties - as well as two interim stints as an independent.

However, despite stunning her new Lib Dem colleagues last July by declaring she was joining The Brexit Party, she ultimately did not go through with the move, confirming in August that she was to continue as an independent.

She was, though, briefly listed as belonging to The Brexit Party on the council’s website in summer 2019.

Her decision to now align herself with the Tories is sure to raise eyebrows, but Coun Nickson believes she has finally found the right party for her.

She said: “It has been six years since I was elected to the council and feel that, eventually I have found my political identity.”

Her journey to the blue side of Rochdale politics has been welcomed by Tory leader Coun Ashley Dearnley, who says she will be ‘an asset’ for the group.

He said: “She will bring with her a lot of knowledge on all the regeneration in Kirkholt and add a lot to the team.

“She is someone everyone in the group got on with in the past. We all welcome her and we are pleased she is with us.”