Reform UK councillor resigns due to ill health

Richard Morgan is leaving Derbyshire County Council on health grounds

A Reform UK councillor has announced he is resigning from Derbyshire County Council due to ill health.

Richard Morgan is the second Derbyshire councillor from Reform UK to step down in the space of less than three weeks.

Cabinet member Jack Bradley, who had been in charge of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision, quit due to personal reasons on 17 October.

The Reform council leader Alan Graves said: "[Richard Morgan] needs to concentrate on his health issues that he's got, and the stress of being a councillor does not help, and so I think it's the best solution."

'Unforeseen situation'

It means Reform UK will now face two quick by-elections, with the contest to fill Bradley's Long Eaton North seat due to be held on 2 December.

A date has not yet been set for the by-election in Morgans' Horsley division.

Most of the 42 Reform UK councillor's elected in Derbyshire in May were new to local government and some have found it hard to carry out their council duties alongside their full-time jobs.

Others, like Morgan and Bradley, have struggled with health issues.

In a statement Morgan said: "It is with regret and a heavy heart that I have to resign my position as county councillor for the Horsley division due to health issues.

"I have tried very hard to cope as well as being a councillor and I have found it too difficult to fulfil my role, and believe it is best for my own personal health and the public if I step away and allow someone else the opportunity to do the position justice.

"I would like to apologise for this unforeseen situation."

Graves said that he and his fellow councillors had tried unsuccessfully to help him stay in post.

"We could have just carried on in the sense that we'll keep him going not to create a by-election.

"However, the problem is that he's not serving the people that elected him properly, and we believe - as does he - that those people deserve proper representation."