A Reform UK councillor has thrown in the towel less than a week after being elected, admitting he can’t juggle politics and his day job in social care.
🚶♂️ Councillor Bails After Just 7 Days
Des Clarke, one of 40 Reform UK councillors elected to Nottinghamshire County Council, has stepped down just days after winning the Newark West seat with 909 votes.
In a statement, Reform UK said Clarke wasn’t able to represent his constituents “in the way they deserve” while continuing his career in social care. The party added that Clarke is “very passionate” about his day job, which ultimately led to his decision.
💷 Tory MP Slams ‘Wasted’ By-Election
Local Tory MP and shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick didn’t hold back. He took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticise the move, posting:
“Just 7 days after being elected, the Reform councillor in Newark has resigned, saying he’s ‘not in a position to represent the people of Newark in the way they deserve’. Perhaps he should have thought about that before standing. Thousands of £ will now be wasted on a by-election.”
🤔 Reform’s Response
A Reform UK spokesperson told HuffPost UK that the resignation was a “personal decision” and wished Clarke well. He added: “We’re now preparing to stand and win the by-election.”
🚫 More Trouble for Reform
Clarke’s resignation follows another headache for the party. Just three days after the local elections, Reform UK suspended newly elected councillor Donna Edmunds after it emerged she had previously pledged to jump ship to another right-wing party.
