Blackpool’s Ivan Taylor believed to be longest serving councillor in the country

A veteran Blackpool councillor is believed to be the longest serving elected member currently serving on a council in the UK.

Cllr Ivan Taylor, who represents Claremont ward, first joined the resort council back in 1966 as a Labour representative, when he was a young man of 26.

He stepped down in 1969 but just two years later he was back when, in 1971, he won a by-election and has had unbroken service ever since.

Although another councillor, David Lancaster MBE, of Salford, was said to be the longest-serving member in the country, he sadly did this year.

Blackpool Council believes Cllr Ivan Taylor, 86, now holds that accolade.

In 2019 he also became the longest serving councillor in Blackpool ‘s history, notching up 50 years,

The man himself is not certain he is the longest-serving representative in the country, but says he still enjoys the “privilege” of being able to represent people in his community.

Cllr Taylor said: “I think I am probably the longest serving councillor in the country but I don’t think there’s any way of proving it, unless you went through and checked with every council in the country.

“It has been a long time and it is still a privilege to be voted in again and represent people in the ward.

“In 1991 I became Leader of the Council and held that role for 10 years, that was a highlight.

“Looking back, I think the main highlight for me was being leader whn Blackpool became a unitary authority, one of just two in the country, in 1998.

“It was a major event and for the first time meant that Blackpool was able to direct a lot of its own services and no longer be a second-tier authority.

“I believe that has paid off well and that, to me, was a proud moment for the council and one I’m proud of.

“And now change is on its way again and the authority will become even bigger, so we’ll have to see what that means.”

He recalls how , in 1991, Labour took control of the council for the first time in history and how he went on to lead the Labour group and the council.

Today the council is run on a leader and cabinet system with decisions mainly made by the executive and other councillors given a scrutiny role.

But previously every member voted during the decision-making process – usually along party lines.

Except on one memorable occasion when , in 1986 Blackpool FC was set to go bust and asked the council for a loan.

He said the Conservatives were in control and didn’t want to give the loan, but he proposed that they should give it.

When the Conservatives decided to give everyone a free vote – with many of the Conservatives being Blackpool fans – his proposal was carried and the club received the loan, keeping the club going “until Owen Oyston bought the club.”

Cllr Taylor currently serves the Cabinet Member for Strategy and Performance but he is not sure what will happen in the near future when change is set to come again.

Blackpool looks set to merge with Preston, Fylde, and the western half of the Wyre borough and would serve a population of roughly 475,000 residents. A preferred option is set to be selected by the Government this summer.

If approved, elections for shadow authorities could take place in May 2027, with the new councils taking over all services from 1 1 2028.

Cllr said: “We’ll have to see what happens but until then, I’ll be doing my best for Claremont.”