A by-election will be held in East Brighton after one of its three Labour councillors announced she is standing down for family reasons.
Maggie Barradell said today that she was returning to Suffolk to look after her mother following the death of her father.
A date has not yet been set for the by-election, but with East Brighton one of Labour’s safest wards in the city, it’s unlikely to change the balance of the council.
Cllr Barradell said: “I feel really sad to be leaving the city but I know it is the right thing to do. My father died before Christmas and I need to return to Suffolk to look after my mum.
“I leave with many fond memories and have been privileged to be a part of some really exciting plans to move the city forward. We will of course be back as holidaymakers as we were before we moved here.”
Leader of the Labour and Co-operative Group Warren Morgan said: “We will be very sorry to lose Maggie. Her contribution to the ward, to the Labour & Co-operative Group and to the city council has been immense even in a relatively short period. However family must come first, and I wish Maggie all the very best for the future.”
A by-election to replace Cllr Barradell, whose husband John was the chief executive of Brighton and Hove City Council from 2009 to 2012, will be called to elect a new councillor for East Brighton.
Last year, Cllr Barradell won 18% of the vote, twice as much as any of the Tory or Green candidates. Also elected, with 18% and 16% respectively, were Cllr Gill Mitchell and Cllr Warren Morgan.
I have much admired the independence and thoughtfulness of this new councillor – especially on Planning Committee duties. Very depressing to lose her.