'˜Don't get elected for the title' says outgoing Northampton councillor to successor

Councillor Matthew Lynch won a second term in his Westone ward by a 500 vote margin in May last year.

But the 58-year-old dad-of-two resigned from the safe seat this week having spent five years on the council. Before that he served a term on Kettering Borough Council.

Mr Lynch said his work commitments with Mercedes had forced him to move to Kent and said he also wanted to spend more time with his sister there, who is currently unwell.

But on leaving the post he said he did not mind if a fellow Conservative replaced him or not - as long as his successor cared about Westone.

“I live in this ward and I want to be succeeded by someone who is going to walk my ward, regardless of what arty they belong to.

“I don’t do party politics really.

“I would say to anyone going into this - don’t just get elected for the title, do I for the community.”

Leader of Northampton Borough Council, Councillor Mary Markham (Con, Park), gave thanks to Mr Lynch for his work Westone and his role on the planning committee.

She said: “We thank him for his time, he was a very devoted councillor and he did an excellent job in his area and on the planning committee.”

Councillor Markham said a by-election would be held after the EU referendum on June 23.