A FORMER Labour stalwart who is a Freeman of the Borough of Allerdale has announced that he will now stand as an independent in a town council by-election.

Alan Smith, a former Leader of Allerdale Borough Council and stalwart of the Labour Party in Cumbria- a party he has been a member of for 38 years, has taken the decision to resign from the party and stand as an independent - after he was not selected to stand by Labour on the town council in the upcoming by-election.

It is understood that despite standing to be selected as the Labour candidate in the by election for the Christchurch ward of Cockermouth Town Council, Mr Smith was told he had failed to even make the panel stage of selection- a decision which was instrumental to him standing as an independent.

Speaking about his decision to the Times and Star, Mr Smith said: "I feel that the town needs good, strong leadership.

"I think that I have got a lot to offer in terms of experience, to help other councillors and the offer wasn't taken up.

"I resigned from the Labour Party as I didn't want to embarrass them and I am standing as an independent."

Mr Smith said that decision to resign from the party which is 'in his blood', and which he has been a member of for almost four decades 'wasn't easy', but his values and beliefs have not changed despite his decision.

He said: "Even though I have resigned from the Labour Party they can not knock my socialist values out of me, my trade union values and my socialist values will be there until my last breath, and they can't do away with everything I have achieved for Cockermouth."

Mr Smith has served previously as a two term Labour Leader of Allerdale Borough Council, Mayor of Allerdale, twice Mayor of Cockermouth and was awarded the title of Freeman of the Borough by Allerdale Borough Council in 2023- an award which is the 'highest award that the council can bestow'.

Speaking about what his key issues are for the town Mr Smith said he would be looking at 'getting the town back on it's feet again' after being affected by issues such as covid and the loss of Wilko's last year- and working to continue the essential town centre bus service as well as keeping the library in the control of Cockermouth Town Council.

The former Mayor said: "My main aim on the town council would be to try and stop the degeneration of the town, put pressure on Cumberland to find out what's happening with Wilko's and and bring some prosperity back to the town."

The by election will take place for the Christchurch ward of Cockermouth Town Council of Thursday, December 12.

There is one other candidate standing in the election: Jenny Forsythe from the Labour Party.

A spokesman for Cockermouth Labour Party said: "We ran the selection process according to our democratic rules.

"Jenny Forsythe was selected fair and square, she is an excellent, energetic worker for the Cockermouth and will make an excellent town councillor if selected."