Councillor disqualified weeks after election

Deborah Vittori is a primary school teacher for a council-run school

A Labour councillor has been disqualified weeks after being elected because she teaches at a council-run school.

Deborah Vittori was told by Bristol City Council on Monday that she has been disqualified from holding office because she is a paid employee of the authority.

She won the Horfield seat in the local election on 3 May, and a by-election is expected to be held.

Ms Vittori said she was "unaware" about about the potential conflict of interest, adding it is a "great shame that this did not come to light earlier in the process".

Labour held the Horfield seat after Ms Vittori won 1,485 votes - 582 more than Green Party candidate Anna Meares.

Bristol City Council said the vetting process for candidates before an election is carried out by the candidate's agent.

Anyone who works for a council they want to be a councillor for are ineligible to become a candidate under the Local Government Act 1972.

Ms Vittori said in a statement: "I am shocked, and absolutely gutted, to discover that, because of my job as a teacher in a local authority maintained primary school, the law will prevent me from serving the people of Horfield who put their trust in me.

"Throughout my election campaign I spoke proudly of my role as a local primary school teacher.

"I was unaware that my teaching would end up disqualifying me from serving the public in another role, as elected councillor, and it is a great shame that this did not come to light earlier in the process.

"I have met so many amazing people in Horfield. It is a matter of deep regret that I won’t be able to represent them as a councillor."

It is not yet known when a by-election would be held.