MP steps down from council ahead of elections

Jonathan Davies has been the Labour MP for Mid Derbyshire since the 2024 General Election

The Labour MP for Mid Derbyshire says he has stepped down from his seat on a borough council ahead of the local elections.

Jonathan Davies was elected to Chesterfield Borough Council for the Brampton East and Boythorpe ward as a Labour councillor in May 2023.

He was then elected to Parliament in the general election the following year.

Davies told the BBC it had been "a privilege to serve people as their councillor".

"I was pleased to support many residents through that role - and serve on several Derbyshire-wide boards to support people's health, safety and wellbeing across the county," he added.

"Following my election to Parliament, I stopped taking my councillor's allowance.

"I have now resigned my council seat so a by-election can coincide with May's county council elections - saving thousands of pounds of public money compared to a costly standalone contest.

"⁠It has been a privilege to serve as a councillor, and I wish my successor all the best in that important role."

The Labour MP for Amber Valley Linsey Farnsworth also resigned her borough council seat this week.

A by-election will be scheduled once the council has received a written request to do so from two local government electors from within the local authority area.

The electors can be registered anywhere in Chesterfield and not solely within the ward itself.

The minimum timescale required to hold a by-election is 25 working days.

In order to hold the by-election on 1 May, the same day as the county council elections, the request must be received no later than 17:00 on Tuesday.

The by-election will be held at a later date if the request is not received by then.