Top Labour councillor quits ahead of Exeter elections

Emma Morse has quit her councillor role ahead of the May local elections

A leading Labour councillor has resigned from Exeter City Council ahead of the local elections in May.

Emma Morse was a member of the Labour-led council's executive and the councillor for Whipton and Mincinglake.

Ms Morse said she had left her role "for personal reasons" and remained a member of the Labour Party.

Exeter City Council said the councillor resigned from her role on 15 March but the news of her departure was not formally announced.

The council said there would not be any by-election as the resignation was within six months of her usual retirement date.

Ms Morse was the portfolio holder for city development and one of nine members on the council's executive under leader Phil Bialyk.

Her former seat is one of 13 in Exeter that will be contested in the local elections on 2 May.

Emma Morse was the councillor for Whipton and Mincinglake

In a statement, Ms Morse said: "I have resigned from Exeter City Council for personal reasons.

"I remain a member of the Labour Party and I am committed to supporting Exeter Labour Party and its aims going forward."

The resignation means that out of the 39 seats on Exeter City Council, Labour now have 23 seats, the Green Party has six, the Conservatives four, the Liberal Democrats three and the Independents two.

Ms Morse was first elected in 2015 and her father, Chester Long, was leader of Exeter City Council from 1983 to 1999.

The deadline for nominations for the 2 May elections is at 16:00 BST and full details of all candidates will be available on the Exeter City Council website.