Married politicians out after 30 years but still have 'fire in our bellies'

A married couple who both served as borough councillors for more than 30 years before losing their seats during the recent local elections say they still have fire in their bellies when it comes to local issues.

John and Gill Williams had represented their community of Cross Heath on Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council in Staffordshire continuously since the early 1990s - but that all came to an end earlier this month as a Reform UK wave swept across many areas.

John, 79, and Gill, 80, were born and raised in the area, and have stayed there their whole lives.

And while they are both Labour party members, they admit they have not always agreed with one another during debates in the council chamber.

A life-long union member, John Williams said his interest in politics took hold during a time when "decent people" were finding themselves the target of antisocial behaviour locally.

"I'm a great believer in people being able to live their lives, and get on with their lives without being intimidated," he said.

Working with the local authority and police, he felt it was his duty to be a part of efforts to tackle the issue, attributing some of the problem to high levels of drug-taking at the time.

But it was actually Gill Williams who became a local councillor first when she was asked to stand in a by-election in 1993.

Her dad had always made his children go out to vote, she said, but admitted it had taken a while to get used to being an elected representative.

"It was quite frightening, actually, because I didn't really know that much about politics… but then we had some good councillors who were already standing and they helped me along the way."

Gill Williams recalled how the local authority used to run on a committee system, with councillors from all parties coming together to make decisions.

This made them more accountable to local people, she said, although she admitted many people felt the cabinet system which came later was the better model for local government.

As well as debates in the chamber, the pair often brought council discussions home with them.

"There was a lot of things I disagreed with John on, and it was like the housing and demolishing houses and various things," she said.

"I've got my point of view and John's got his. I make up my own mind."

It was easier to be in politics as a couple, she said, because they would each be interested in the things that had been discussed in council meetings or paperwork.

Now more than 50 years of marriage, their views had not yet led them to divorce, she joked.

But what of their thoughts on the new administration?

"Whoever's in power, running the council, we want Newcastle to do well," John Williams explained.

"It was disappointing," he said, to lose the election, "but we'd got a good idea from the national press."

He said he believed events in Westminster had impacted on how the public had placed their votes locally.

Despite that, he stated he was proud of the work they had done over the past 30 years, adding they had done their best for their local community.

His wife said they had always welcomed residents to knock on their door to raise any issues with them.

Gill Williams said she had enjoyed "every minute" of being a councillor, but conceded it had probably been the right time to bow out.

"We always said when we can't deliver our own leaflets, that was when we were going to pack it in," she said.

"I was ready to retire, I'll be honest, but I've enjoyed everything about it. It's great."

Her husband added: "I've enjoyed it the same as Gill. It's kept us going physically and of course mentally as well, reading all the reports.

"We've still got fire in our bellies for Cross Heath and the bigger area of Newcastle."

And looking ahead, both of them plan on being involved in the local Labour party for the foreseeable future.

They also intend to watch council meetings – albeit from the public gallery rather than taking up their usual seats in the chamber, and they now have the flexibility to attend when they want to rather than when their diaries dictate.

Gill Williams offered words of advice for those newly-elected councillors: "Look at the people first, and not the politics."

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