Three Ealing councillors who were elected as MPs in the recent General Election (4 July 2024) have yet to confirm if they are standing down which would trigger ward by-elections in the borough.
Ealing Council told EALING.NEWS: “To date the three councillors have not resigned therefore no date for by-elections have been set.”
Labour’s Callum Anderson, a South Acton councillor, won Buckingham & Bletchley while Northolt Mandeville Labour councillor and deputy leader of Ealing Council Deirdre Costigan won Ealing Southall.
Conservative Gregory Stafford who represents the Hanger Hill ward won Farnham & Bordon.
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.
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, 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.”
They added: “To date the three councillors have not resigned therefore no date for by-elections have been set.”
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.”
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