A Conservative councillor has resigned his seat on Lewes District Council for ‘personal reasons’.
On Monday (March 14), Joseph Miller, Conservative councillor for Peacehaven West, announced his resignation from his seat with ‘immediate effect’.
In a statement, Mr Miller, 27, said his decision had been made with ‘great regret’, but that he felt he no longer had the time available for the job as a result of changes to his personal circumstances.
He said:
“It is with great regret that I have decided to resign from the council with immediate effect today.
“This is because of personal reasons and the fact that it has become increasingly clear that I no longer have the time required to perform the public duty that it is, as my consultancy work increases.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to represent the residents of Peacehaven West for the past three years, and to chair the scrutiny committee which I have led in doing some very important work.
“I wish all of the residents of Peacehaven and Lewes District well for the future.”
Brighton & Hove News have suggested that Mr Miller's resignation is connected to a current drink-driving charge, for which he has pleaded not guilty.
Bu Mr Miller has denied this "wholeheartedly," stating this is a private matter and completely unrelated to his resignation.
The resignation will trigger a by-election, likely to be held on May 5th alongside other local council elections around England.
Until then, the council is made up of: 18 Conservative, nine Liberal Democrat, eight Green, three Labour and two Independent councillors.
Mr Miller has also resigned his seat on Brighton and Hove City Council, where he had been a councillor since 2015.
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