A second seat in one of Newcastle most hotly-contested election battlegrounds will be up for grabs in May.
Voters in the swing ward of North Jesmond will elect two councillors at May’s local elections, after one of the area’s representatives stood down. Labour councillor Stella Postlethwaite has resigned her post with immediate effect, having held the seat for almost seven years.
In a resignation letter last week, she said it was an “incredible privilege and a role I will never forget” to have served as a councillor since 2016. She is stepping down to “concentrate on building a career as a solicitor”, as she is soon to complete a law qualification.
Read More: Watchdog 'deeply concerned' after firefighter promoted while under investigation for rape
Her exit means that a second prized seat will be on offer on polling day on May 4 in what is one of the few wards in Newcastle represented by a split of councillors from different parties. Ms Postlethwaite was re-elected last year with a slim majority of just 40 over the Liberal Democrats. Labour’s Tanya Prestwell and Lib Dem Gerry Keating, whose term is due to end in May, are the ward’s other two councillors.
A former member of Newcastle City Council’s cabinet under the leadership of Nick Forbes, Ms Postlethwaite was among the group shuffled out of the authority’s top table after Nick Kemp emerged victorious from a Labour power struggle to take charge at the civic centre last year.
There will be one seat up for election in each of the other 25 wards in Newcastle on local election day. This will be the first year when voters are required to bring a form of photo ID with them to polling stations when going to cast their ballot.
Following Ms Postlethwaite’s resignation, the current political make up of the council is: Labour 50, Lib Dems 21, three Newcastle Independents, two independent and two vacancies.
Read Next:
- Police commissioner calls for 'urgent investigation' into fire service after shocking allegations
- Council chiefs grilled over Jesmond road closures as low traffic neighbourhood design put under review
- Domestic abuse victims in Newcastle face 'unacceptable' wait for help due to demand for services
- Police boss accused of dodging scrutiny over plan to slash majority of PCSO jobs
- Government pothole pledge 'falls far short' as Newcastle still faces £184m repairs backlog
