In a statement published by Blackpool Council, Cllr Williams said debt, which reached £570 million in 2025, was not automatically a problem and should instead be judged on how it had been used. "Blackpool Council has chosen to invest." The intervention follows criticism from Mr Snowden, who recently launched a petition titled "Scrap the Forced Merger of Fylde & Wyre with Blackpool". The Conservative MP claimed residents had previously opposed the proposal and argued Fylde and Wyre councils had demonstrated strong financial management. He also claimed the merger would see Fylde and Wyre taxpayers contributing towards Blackpool Council's borrowing.