Former #Cheshire West and #Chester Labour councillor and senior Cabinet member, Cllr Matt Bryan (Upton), was sentenced at Chester Magistrate's Court on Wednesday 27th March 2024, having previously pleaded guilty to being more than four times over the drink-drive limit.
Prior to September 2023, Cllr Bryan was a senior member of 'Cabinet’, a group of elected members in the ruling administration who have executive authority over the running of Cheshire West and Chester Council. Cllr Bryan was also a Labour councillor and Labour group member from his election in May 2015 until the whip was withdrawn in September 2023. It is unclear whether he remains a member of the Labour Party or will be allowed to rejoin the Labour Group on Cheshire West and Chester Council in the future.
Responding to the news that Cllr Bryan was issued with a 36 month driving ban, has to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, and has an alcohol abstinence requirement, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council Conservative Group, Cllr Lynn Gibbon, said:
"Cllr Matt Bryan has been handed a substantial sentence for his disgraceful behaviour. When details of this case were first released into the public domain we called on him to resign with immediate effect. We repeat that call now. Upton residents deserve better from their elected representatives – the individuals that local people put their trust in to represent them and improve their lives. They don’t deserve to have a local councillor who does the opposite. This whole sorry business is an appalling turn of events which put the lives of others at risk. The facts of this case speak for themselves. Cllr Bryan is not a fit and proper person to continue to hold public office.
"The Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cllr Louise Gittins, also has serious questions to answer, both as leader of the council and leader of the local Labour group. She has so far refused to reply in writing to the letter sent to her regarding this matter by Cllr Margaret Parker in February. We call upon her to do so now and also join with us in asking Cllr Bryan to do the decent thing and resign so that residents in the Upton ward can elect a councillor who will put them first and not indulge in serious criminal behaviour. I have written to Cllr Gittins today on this matter and release a copy of my letter with this statement."
