THE leader of Colchester Conservatives says the group will call a by-election to replace a councillor who changed allegiance.
The Gazette revealed last night how Lexden and Braiswick councillor Martin Leatherdale has moved from being a Conservative to an Independent.
Mr Leatherdale romped home when fighting for his seat in Lexden and Braiswick ward earlier this month on May 5, securing 1,416 votes.
But Conservative group leader on the council Darius Laws issued a statement last night saying a by-election should now be held just weeks after the election.
Mr Leatherdale, who is also the boss of Colchester’s Lion Walk Shopping Centre, became an Independent on Monday, with the change now reflected on Colchester Council's website.
Mr Laws issued a statement on Monday evening saying his former colleague appeared to have resigned from his duties.
Mr Laws said: “It is quite clear from correspondence we have seen that Mr Martin Leatherdale has resigned his seat from Colchester Council.
“He has told the chief executive of Colchester Council that he wishes to ‘relinquish his role as a ward councillor’ and in anyone’s language including the English dictionary, it means give up or voluntarily move aside.
“We have also checked with the Conservative party central office's head of local Government, who agrees with this view.
“Mr Leatherdale's decision to quit the council is clear. We as a party are now in the process of selecting a new candidate to replace him.
“We simply await Colchester Council to declare the vacancy and then we will call the by-election.
“It is only fair to the residents of Lexden and Braiswick. They voted overwhelmingly for a Conservative councillor and we intend to give them the chance to have one.”
Mr Leatherdale achieved more than double the votes of his Lib Dem rival Sandra Cluham, who secured 607 votes at the polls, in compassion to Stephen Novy’s 406 votes for Labour and Green candidate Roger Bamforth’s 302 votes.
Colchester Council’s website shows how Mr Leatherdale was a member of the Conservative Party from May 10, 2021, until Sunday.
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