Newly elected Labour MP for Buckingham & Bletchley Callum Anderson has formerly announced he is stepping down as councillor for South Acton which will trigger an autumn by-election for the ward.
Mr Anderson is the first of three Ealing councillors who won seats last month in the General Election to confirm they will be resigning to focus on their Parliament role.
No details have been announced when the by-election will take place but is likely to happen in the autumn.
Posting on X, Mr Anderson said: “I am no longer an @EalingLabour Councillor. It has been a privilege to serve the borough. Especially want to thank @_petermason , my ward colleagues @jkblacker & & Yvonne Johnson, @shawgareth , @SteveDW3 , @BlerinaHashani , @CllrAKelly and so many other colleagues for their support.”
He added: “I will always be grateful and moved for the time so many of @EalingLabour took to help us make history in Buckingham & Bletchley – whose residents I will serve graciously during this Parliament. I may have floated from the @EalingLabour nest, but I’ll always be its friend.”
It was third time lucky to become an MP for Mr Anderson. In the 2019 General Election he stood for Labour in South West Bedfordshire where he came second while in 2022 he stood to be selected as the Labour candidate for Stevenage but wasn’t shortlisted.
On hearing the news of Mr Anderson resigning as a councillor, leader of Ealing Conservatives, Councillor Julian Gallant told EALING.NEWS: “Callum Anderson MP has resigned his elected position of Ealing Councillor on X?! That indicates a lack of respect for his South Acton constituents. Callum Anderson seems more interested in “making history” than making life better for people.”
Two other councillors, Northolt Mandeville Labour councillor Deirdre Costigan won Ealing Southall while Conservative Gregory Stafford who represents the Hanger Hill ward won Farnham & Bordon have yet to confirm if they are standing down.
While there is nothing stopping a councillor from holding on to their ward seat and be an MP at the same time, many will stand down to focus on their Parliamentary career.
In the December 2019 General Election, Councillor Stafford’s brother Alexander Stafford become Conservative MP for Rother Valley and remained an Ealing Broadway councillor until 1 April 2020 while fellow Conservative Joy Morrissey became MP for Beaconsfield and remained Hanger Hill councillor until 1 April 2020.
Speaking to EALING.NEWS earlier this month, an Ealing Council spokesperson said: “It is possible and legal for an individual to hold the positions of councillor and MP at the same time. It would be the decision of the individual if they wish to resign from their elected position as councillor.”
Councillor Gary Malcolm, leader of Ealing Liberal Democrats, said: “Liberal Democrats say residents in Hanger Hill are tired of Tory councillors not wanting to serve them and instead swapping off to be an MP. Liberal Democrat Councillor Athena Zissimos has been hardworking solving hundreds of issues for residents since she was elected in 2022. We are working to ensure that residents in Hanger Hill vote for a Lib Dem who stands up for them against the Labour Council.”
