News / Politics
Shock as newly elected councillor disqualified
The elation of victory in the recent local elections has been short-lived for a Labour councillor who has been disqualified just 17 days after winning a seat in Horfield.
Deborah Vittori has been told she is barred from being a councillor on Bristol City Council because she is a teacher in a council-run school.
According to the guidelines for local elections in England and Wales, a candidate employed by the local authority or who holds a paid office under the authority cannot stand for local elections. The list includes work at certain schools, fire services, police or health services.
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Vittori, who campaigns for clean air and volunteers with a food poverty charity, said she was unaware of the rule and it was “a great shame” it did not “come to light” before the election took place.
The primary school teacher won one of two seats in Horfield, where the turnout was 33 per cent, with 1,485 votes alongside Labour’s Tom Renhard who received 1,495 votes.
Labour won both seats for Horfield ward, electing Tom Renhard and Deborah Vittori – photo: Bristol City Council
In a statement, Vittori said: “I am shocked, and absolutely gutted, to discover that, because of my job as a teacher in a local authority maintained primary school, the law will prevent me from serving the people of Horfield who put their trust in me.”
“Throughout my election campaign I spoke proudly of my role as a local primary school teacher.
“I was unaware that my teaching would end up disqualifying me from serving the public in another role, as elected councillor, and it is a great shame that this did not come to light earlier in the process.
“I have met so many amazing people in Horfield; it is a matter of deep regret that I won’t be able to represent them as a councillor.”
Tom Renhard, MP Darren Jones and Deborah Vittori at the count at City Academy in Redfield – photo: Mia Vines Booth
A by-election in Horfield is now expected to take place with voters going back to the polls just a few weeks after the election at the start of May.
On this development, a spokesperson for Bristol City Council said: “A notice of disqualification has been published today in relation to Horfield Ward councillor, Councillor Deborah Vittori-Garman. It has come to the Council’s attention that Councillor Vittori-Garman holds a position as a paid employee of Bristol City Council, which disqualifies her from holding office as a councillor. Councillor Vittori-Garman’s office as a Member of Bristol City Council is to be made vacant with immediate effect. The vetting of prospective candidates prior to an election is the responsibility of party-political groups and a prospective candidate’s agent.”
Main photo: Mia Vines Booth
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