Independent candidate Peter Allison has been disqualified from next month’s Farnley & Wortley by-election.
Mr Allison, of Tong Road, Farnley, took to social media to confirm his disqualification, which is connected to his job as a youth worker with Leeds City Council.
He wrote on Facebook: “It is with regret that I have to inform you that I have been disqualified from the local elections on 10 October.
“I was always aware that I would have to resign from my role within Leeds City Council as a youth worker but I was unaware that my resignation plus notice period would have to have ended by the time I submitted my nomination papers.
“I imagine there will be some other happy candidates today, just unfortunately not myself.
Nonetheless, I will endeavour to do what I can to continue supporting our community and who knows what the future will hold.
“Thank you to everyone who showed their support since I announced my candidacy.”
The remaining candidates are:
- Richard Andrews – Liberal Democrat
- David Blackburn – Green Party
- David Dresser – Reform UK
- Al Garthwaite – Labour Party
- Richard Riley – Social Democratic Party
- Lalit Suryawanshi – Conservative Party
The by-election has been called following the resignation of Labour’s Mark Sewards, who was elected MP for Leeds South West and Morley in July.
It’s pretty poor that being an employee of Leeds City council removes a person’s democratic right to stand for election. It implies that an employee of the council cannot be trusted to not work the system to their benefit unfairly. I’d be interested in knowing if there is an explanation that’s generally accepted for this being the case. Ps in the interests of transparency I am an ex-council employee myself.
Has he been disqualified from standing, or would he be disqualified if he won? I wonder if his name will still be on the ballot paper.