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Reporter swaps press bench for council chamber

A former regional journalist has made the switch from reporting on his local council to serving as an elected member of the same authority.

David Sudworth, left, was news editor at the Ormskirk Advertiser series for three years where he spent much time reporting on West Lancashire Borough Council meetings.

But he has now been elected as a Conservative councillor for the Derby ward of the council, polling 1,002 votes in last week’s elections.

David, 31, started out in journalism at the Southport Visiter in 2001 and also spent two years as chief reporter at the Formby Times before becoming news editor at the Advertiser.

He left journalism more than three years ago and now works in PR, deciding to stand as a councillor because of his interest in politics.

Said David: “It was journalism which first got me interested in politics and local government. I was always the one who volunteered to cover council committee meetings and election nights.

“While I was at the Advertiser I ran a political comment blog which I used to launch the paper’s first ever live web results service.

“Being a candidate is a lot like being a journalist in the sense that you get out there, meet people, listen to their concerns and issues, get them highlighted with the relevant authorities who will then hopefully be able to get it resolved.

“It fascinated me how politics and the decisions which politicians make have an influence on people’s lives. Being a reporter, I got to see it from both sides and eventually decided after leaving journalism that it was something I would like to do myself.

“My friends and former colleagues in journalism have been really supportive and I’ve had many messages of congratulations. I’m really looking forward to my four year term as a West Lancashire Borough Councillor.”

At last week’s elections, The Courier’s former sports editor was elected to the Scottish Parliament.