A Reform UK councillor, Stephen Gribbon, has stepped down from his position in Oldham just over a week after being elected in the recent local elections. Mr Gribbon, who secured a seat in the Failsworth East ward on 2nd May, tendered his resignation ten days later, citing pre-existing business commitments as the reason for his inability to fulfil the demands of a councillor role.
His departure necessitates a by-election for the Failsworth East ward, which will incur additional costs for local taxpayers. The timing of the resignation has drawn criticism from other political parties, who argue that the public should not bear the financial burden of a second election so soon after the initial vote.
Reform UK stated that Mr Gribbon's business interests, which were established before his candidacy, proved more demanding than anticipated, making it impossible for him to dedicate the necessary time to council duties. They expressed regret over the situation but maintained that the decision was made to ensure the ward had a representative who could fully commit to the role.
Local Labour and Liberal Democrat groups have voiced concerns regarding the financial implications. Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, highlighted that by-elections are not inexpensive and questioned why Reform UK had not adequately vetted their candidates' availability before the election. Calls have been made for Reform UK to consider contributing to the cost of the upcoming by-election, given the circumstances of the resignation.
The electoral services department at Oldham Council will now begin the process of organising the by-election. This will involve setting a date, publishing notices, and managing nominations, all of which require significant administrative resources and public funds. The incident raises broader questions about candidate vetting processes across all political parties, particularly for individuals with demanding professional lives.