Former Blackpool councillor who used to be in Jethro Tull heads back to the recording studio

Blackpool’s former Conservative group leader says he is heading back into the recording studio after losing his seat at the local elections.

Tony Williams was the council’s Conservative group leader for eight years and represented Anchorsholme for 12 years in total. He resigned from the party in February this year following a row with Blackpool South Conservative MP Scott Benton, standing as an independent candidate in Norbreck ward at the May 4 local elections.

But after failing to win a seat, a return to his musical roots is on the cards. Tony, who played bass guitar for Stealers Wheel and Jethro Tull in the 1970s, said: “I will miss some parts of my council work but I have got my life back.

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“I’m planning to go back into the studio to record as I have written some tracks, and I also make and repair guitars.”

He added: “I would like to thank the people of Anchorsholme for their support over the years. I’ve had a lot of calls and emails and I will still help people unofficially. I feel as Conservative group leader I brought together what had been a disjointed group and we became very focused and had similar minded goals.

“The officers in the economic development team at the council have done a brilliant job with making bids and bringing money into Blackpool.”