Two councillors forced to resign over election rule breaches
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The Green Party has pledged to strengthen its vetting processes for local election candidates after two newly elected councillors were forced to step down for breaching electoral rules.
Responding to the issue, a Green Party spokesperson said: “We are strengthening our vetting processes for future elections as a result of eligibility issues raised over two of our candidates.”
The move comes as the London Boroughs of Hackney and Camden have signalled plans to hold by-elections for the vacant seats.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Hackney candidate James Tilden and Camden candidate Muhammed Naser both won seats at the local elections on 7 May. However, both were employed as teachers by their respective councils at the time.
Under the Local Government Act 1972, local authority employees are disqualified from standing for election to the authority that employs them.
A Hackney Council spokesperson confirmed that Tilden, who won the Hackney Central ward with 1,681 votes on Thursday (7 May), has resigned as a councillor.
The spokesperson said: “As a result, a by-election will be called in the Hackney Central ward. The details of the by-election will be announced in due course.”
A Camden Council spokesperson confirmed that Naser, who took one of the three Regent’s Park ward seats last week, had said he would resign, creating a vacancy.
The spokesperson added: “Once a request to hold a by-election has been received the statutory timetable will begin.”
Camden Council said it expects the by-election to take place in July.
Adam Carey
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