LONG-standing Lliswerry councillor Allan Morris has announced he will be standing as an independent candidate in next year’s Newport city council elections.

Last week, the Argus reported that four Labour councillors in Newport had been de-selected.

Councillor Allan Morris was not included on the approved candidate list by the city’s Labour Candidate Forum, while the other three councillors - Gaer Councillor Herbie Thomas and Caerleon councillors Cliff Suller and Paul Huntley – were de-selected by their respective wards.

Cllr Morris said: “I’m absolutely overwhelmed with emails, calls and text messages of support from people not just from Lliswerry and Nash, but from all over Newport. My phone hasn’t stopped ringing since Friday night.

“I feel very humbled by their appreciation of my role as a councillor.

“I believe I’ve earned my reputation the hard way and all my time as a councillor I’ve never had a complaint from a constituent about the way I conduct myself.”

Cllr Morris said that he is disillusioned at the way he has been de-selected and that many people have urged him not to go, but to stand as an independent.

“My family issues come first but, all being well, I’ll stand as an independent,” he said.

Leader of the independent group in Newport Council Cllr Kevin Whitehead said that Cllr Morris has been a fantastic councillor for 30 years and that, if he wants to join them, that’d be good.

Cllr Debbie Wilcox, leader of the Labour-run Newport City Council, said that Cllr Morris was not selected to the list of approved candidates because his principal residence is no longer in Newport.

Council leader Debbie Wilcox said: “Cllr Morris was not de-selected by his branch but was not added to the approved candidate list by the NLCF after a democratic process had been undertaken and was therefore unavailable for selection.

“There was an appeal process open to him but I believe he did not take up this option.”

The council leader said that she was “extremely sorry” that councillor colleagues will be leaving Newport City Council at the next election as she has worked closely with them over many years and values the contribution they’ve made to their communities and to the council.