No police action over residency row councillors

Chandni Mistry and Bharti Gajjar had been facing calls to step down from the council

Sussex Police has said no action will be taken over claims that two Brighton councillors did not live in the city.

Chandni Mistry and Bharti Gajjar resigned from the local authority last week after being removed from the Labour group in December.

The force said it had thoroughly investigated allegations of electoral malpractice but had found "insufficient evidence" to support a charging decision.

Both councillors were contacted for comment.

Sussex Police confirmed officers were investigating the claims in December, after both were expelled from the Labour Party.

The force's latest statement added that inquiries had concluded with no action to be "pursued in relation to this matter".

Ms Mistry had represented the Queen's Park ward, while Ms Gajjar had represented the Kemptown ward.

The Labour Party cancelled both women's memberships after what it described as a "thorough internal investigation".

'An honour'

Both women continued as independents until last week, but the party had called on them to step down.

In January, Ms Mistry said she continued to be "a proud resident" of Brighton, and was unsure where the residency claims had come from.

On her resignation, she said it had been "truly an honour" to be Brighton's youngest councillor.

She added that as a full-time student, combining the role with her studies "has been a tremendous amount of pressure".

Ms Gajjar said she had been "preoccupied with supporting members of my family going through personal difficulties", alongside serious health issues.

"I have also recommenced my studies in medicine, which naturally require a significant time commitment."