A councillor in Oldham who has tendered her resignation after just 10 months in the job is understood to have cited the cost of living crisis as one of her reasons for quitting.
Coun Sahr Abid, of Medlock Vale ward, is understood to have emailed her resignation to Oldham Chief executive Harry Catherall on Tuesday.
Ms Abid had won the seat last year, beating incumbent Labour councillor Ateeuque Ur-Rehman, whose Labour colleague Cath Ball, member for St James ward, was defeated by Tory candidate Beth Sharp.
However, her time in a Conservative seat has been short-lived after she tendered her resignation on Tuesday afternoon in a letter which is understood to have cited as one of the reasons the party policies' impact on the cost of living crisis.
During her time in office, Ms Abid, had spoken out for residents on a number of issues, including their views on the Northern Roots 160-care eco park at Snipe Cloug h and the fear that residents would be 'swamped' by traffic and sub-standard housing with a contentious planning application.
It's understood Conservative councillors were sent an email on Tuesday in the late afternoon by chief executive Mr Catherall confirming the resignation and referencing a plan to advertise the seat this week ahead of a by-election.
Pam Byrne, Conservative councillor for Saddleworth North, said she was 'shocked' by the resignation, adding: "It's something we didn't know about until this afternoon, there had been no indication at meetings before this."
The Manchester Evening News has contacted Ms Abid and Coun Graham Sheldon for comment.
