THREE leading Blackpool politicians from the three main parties have said they are going to put their politics behind them and put Blackpool first.

The new independent party, Blackpool First Alliance vowed at its launch at a South Shore hotel on Friday (July 7) to listen to what the people of Blackpool want and to modernise the whole council system.

And they have promised that if they are in power they will keep all eight of the council-owned homes for the elderly open and properly maintained.

The party consists of founder member John Finlay, who before his resignation three weeks ago, was Labour Party chairman, ex-Conservative councillor Eddie Dixon and Lib Dem Beverley Moy, most recently involved with the Save Leys Farm group.

In its five page manifesto the party promised to be committed to "open, honest and inclusive local government" and "to see Blackpool once again as the premier resort with major investment in tourism and other industries."

Mr Finlay explained that the money needed to keep these promises would come straight from savings at the town hall. "There is so much money wasted on red tape," he said.

"This is money that could well be diverted to putting the needs of the citizens of Blackpool first.

"It is too early to discuss specifics about policies at the moment, but we are interested in hearing what the people have to say.

"That is why we intend to introduce a half-hour time slot before each meeting where members of the public can give their views on what the council should be doing.

"I think that even on a national level people have become bored with party politics and that's why we want to set this example, by putting our political diferences behind us and putting Blackpool first."

The parties first scheduled challenge will be in the 2003 council elections, but they have vowed to fight any seat in by-elections before then.