
A Morecambe county councillor says he's "angry, disappointed and frustrated" not to have been chosen by his party to stand in the next local elections.
Charlie Edwards, a Conservative who has been a Lancashire county councillor for Morecambe South for eight years, released a statement on social media saying that he won't be standing in the local elections later this year.
The next Lancashire County Council elections will take place on Thursday May 1.
County Councillor Edwards is also a former Lancaster city councillor.
He said on his public Facebook page: "I won’t be standing as the Conservative candidate for Morecambe South at the election in May.
"I am so disappointed in the decision as I have poured my heart and soul into our local area over the past 10 years.
"It has been a huge privilege to serve my community, and I have worked hard to save bus routes, fix roads, support small businesses and delivered the funding for the Baylight festival, fulfilling my election promise to 'bring back the Illuminations'.
"I’ve said what I was going to do and spent every day doing it. I’ve never lost sight of what matters: doing what’s right for the people of Morecambe and being honest about it.
"I’m angry, disappointed and frustrated. That’s politics!
"I have been approached by other political parties, but I believe in loyalty and will only look for other opportunities within the Conservative Party.
"But in the meantime, I just want to thank every single person in Morecambe South, Westgate, Torrisholme, for allowing me to serve them for eight years as their county councillor.
"Being a councillor is a thankless task, it takes over your life and it is a privilege to serve my community in this way."
County Councillor Edwards was first elected onto Lancashire County Council in 2017.
Beyond Radio has approached Morecambe & Lunesdale Conservatives for comment.
Nominations for the next Lancashire County Council elections are due to be announced on April 3.
Other county councillors currently with seats in the Lancaster & Morecambe District are Andrew Gardiner (Conservative, Heysham), Lizzi Collinge (Labour, Lancaster East), Gina Dowding (Green, Lancaster Central), Dr Erica Lewis (Labour, Lancaster South East), Stuart Morris (Conservative, Morecambe North), Jean Parr (Labour, Skerton), Margaret Pattison (Labour, Morecambe Central) and council leader Phillippa Williamson (Conservative, Lancaster Rural North).