Green party councillor who took former Sheffield Council leader's seat resigns
The councillor said he was “not prepared for the huge weight of expectation and obligation”
A candidate who beat Sheffield’s Council leader in his own ward has announced he will now be stepping away from politics - only three months after being elected.
The Walkley ward saw one of the biggest shake-ups of the May 7 local elections, when then-council leader Tom Hunt lost his seat to the Green Party’s Andy Davies.
Now, just three months later, residents in the city suburb are preparing to head to the polls once again after Councillor Davies announced that he will be resigning from his position due to his mental health.
In a public statement, Coun Davies said: “It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I am announcing my resignation as Walkley councillor due to my mental health and associated personal reasons. I will be taking a step back from all political activity for a time.
“While I was prepared for the workload, I was not prepared for the huge weight of expectation and obligation I felt in the role. Not just to the community and those who voted for me, but to those who campaigned tirelessly and continued to do so much to support me.
“This pressure and stress has manifested itself in unhealthy ways and has impacted myself and those around me. I do not take this decision lightly, and apologise to everyone impacted by it.
“I will be turning off commenting and ask that people respect my wish for privacy at this time. And, finally, I'd like to encourage anyone suffering from mental health issues to speak to a professional, or at least to your support network. There should be no shame.”
The decision is expected to trigger a by-election in the ward, the second to be announced in Sheffield this summer after Gareth Slater resigned in Southey last month.
A Green Party spokesperson said of coun Davies’ resignation: “We want to express our gratitude for our volunteers, members and most importantly voters in Walkley, who we know will be shocked and saddened by this sudden news.
“We would like to thank Andy Davies for his service, however brief. We wish him all the best with his mental health, and we respect his desire for privacy at this difficult time.”
The five candidates for the August 27 election in Southey are:
Labour - Jayne Dunn
The Conservative Party - Daniel Gage
Liberal Democrats - Oliver Edward George
Reform UK - Paul Jakeman
Green Party - Daniel John Moy
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