PECKHAM COUNCILLOR WILL RESIGN AS SHE IS SELECTED FOR MP FIGHT

2 October 2009

John Prendergast
johnp@southwarknews.org

EXCLUSIVE
Peckham councillor Susan Elan Jones has confirmed to the 'News' that she will resign her seat on Southwark Council, having successfully being selected as a parliamentary candidate in Wales.

Cllr Jones, who represents the Lane ward, will be the Labour candidate for Clwyd South at next year's general election.

The area, which is situated in the north east region of Wales, is the Peckham councillor's hometown constituency and following the local party’s, decision she decided she could not split her time between Peckham and Wales.

She told the 'News': "I have always done my best to be a hard-working ward councillor in The Lane ward and to devote myself conscientiously to my council duties. In view of my selection to represent Labour in the Parliamentary seat I am from in north Wales, I have agreed with my constituents and ward colleagues in Southwark that I will be resigning as a Southwark councillor on November 11, which is when the requisite formal written notice will be given."

The seat will remain vacant until the next council election, as Cllr Jones’ resignation is after the period where a by-election is automatically triggered.

Southwark Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Stanton, commented: “Susan Elan Jones is clearly committed to pursuing her political career 200 miles away from her current constituents.

“I'm sure the residents of the Lane will take a dim view of her newly found commitment to north Wales and her cynical resignation date that denies them their right to a vote. Labour clearly expect to lose any election and are in disarray, with half of their council group standing down or being forced out.”

He added: “Susan Elan Jones is joining a long queue of ambitious Labour politicians who realise their only hope is to pursue their careers elsewhere."

Southwark Labour Leader, Cllr Peter John, responded: "I'm surprised that Nick Stanton feels the need to criticise this fact, given that so many of his colleagues have attempted to fulfil their own parliamentary ambitions in previous general elections. In many of these cases they have failed to serve the needs of their ward constituents, while trying to do this by failing to prioritise their work. In the end they ended up putting their own needs before those of their constituents by continuing with both roles." 

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