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New Medway MPs to remain in council roles

By on Sunday 16th May 2010 12:20 / 1 comment

 

Two newly-elected MPs are the retain their jobs on the council, whilst a third MP has yet to signal his intentions.

Conservative Councillors Mark Reckless (Rochester West) and Rehman Chishti (Rainham Central) achieved majorities of over 9,000 in last week’s elections in Rochester and Strood and Gillingham and Rainham respectively.

However, rather than prompt by-elections in their wards, they have decided to remain on the council, although Cllr Chishti has given up his cabinet portfolio, as their council constituents are also their constituents in Parliament.

Labour Councillor Bill Esterson, meanwhile, has refused to rule out remaining as River ward councillor after moving to his new Sefton Central constituency with his family.

He leaves his conservative counterpart Cllr Craig Mackinlay to handle the casework in the two-member ward, prompting concerns over the interests of their constituents.

A Medway Council spokesman stated that it was up to individuals to decide on their futures, saying that there was no formal requirement for any of the three to resign.

 

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1 Comment

  1. John Ward says:
    Monday 24th May 2010 at 16:37

    I have been thinking about this, as there is a balance to be struck between serving one’s ward residents in terms of council matters while being an MP, and the public cost and disruption of by-elections.

    Where the MPs are still based (and representing) this area in Parliament, there should be no difficulty in staying on at the Council until the next local elections, which for Medway will be just a year away.

    For any new MP representing another part of the country, staying on the Council as well (and being paid a ?9,000 p.a. allowance) is unacceptable, especially in a two-member ward. It might just about be excusable in a three-member ward (such as Rehman Chishti: though he hasn’t moved away).

    Although one can still work to a degree from a distance, via email and telephone, I cannot see how that could be effective when one is also an MP and now needs to get to know a new constituency.

 
 

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