Prominent Conservative councillor in Northampton SUSPENDED while investigation takes place

Conservative councillor Phil Larratt, who was Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, Highways & Waste at West Northants Council, has been suspended.

Leader of the council, councillor Adam Brown said: “We’re looking into an alleged contravention of group rules and we’ve suspended councillor Larratt as a neutral act while we investigate. There’s nothing further to add at this time.”

Councillor Larratt, who represent the Nene Valley ward, was a prominent and longstanding member of the Conservative party in Northampton but his WNC profile now says he is a ‘non-aligned’ Independent councillor.

This newspaper has contacted councillor Larratt for comment.

West Northants Labour Group said on X, formerly Twitter, it's important that the circumstances of the suspension of ‘such a key Cabinet and Conservative member are shared with us so they can be scrutinised’.

A WNC spokesman said: “We have been informed by the Conservative Group that the whip has been withdrawn from Cllr Larratt for up to 21 days whilst an investigation takes place.

"They have also confirmed that Cllr Larratt has been stepped down from his Cabinet duties during this period and alternative arrangements are being made for these responsibilities during this time.”

Earlier this year, councillor Larratt was called to apologise by the opposition for an ‘outrageous’ comment he made at a council meeting.

The same councillor was quizzed by the BBC in April about domestic violence allegations made against disgraced former council leader Jonathan Nunn. Responding to the journalist, councillor Larratt said: “What’s gone is gone.”