ONE of Cornwall’s six new MPs has said he will stand down as a Cornwall councillor but only in eight months’ time when the council elections take place.

Andrew George, the Liberal Democrat MP for the St Ives constituency, said he doesn’t want to cause “disruption and expense” to Cornwall Council by forcing a by-election.

His comments came the day after Jayne Kirkham, the new Labour MP for Truro and Falmouth, announced her resignation as councillor for the Falmouth Penwerris division. She said: “I’ve been so privileged and honoured to have represented the people of Penwerris, and before that Smithick since February 1, 2018.

“However, this new job is one that will take all of me and I cannot do it justice unless I give all of me to it. Thank you so much all of the councillors and officers I have worked with. You’ve made it an incredible journey.”

Mr George said he will follow Ms Kirkham’s lead, but not quite yet. The former MP for St Ives, who lost his seat to Conservative Derek Thomas but regained it at the General Election last month, will juggle his parliamentary role with his position as Lib Dem councillor for Ludgvan, Madron, Gulval and Heamoor but will donate his councillor allowance to worthy causes.

He said: “I will also stand down as councillor, when the next council elections take place in May. I, of course, respect Jayne’s decision, but concluded it best not to cause disruption and expense to the council with a further by-election and would therefore carry on for the remaining months.

“Unlike Jayne I only hold one councillor position. I’ve attended council meetings and parish councils in my ward, and have so far found that being MP enhances rather than detracts what I’m able to do as councillor. For the remaining months I’ll direct the councillor net allowance to support local charitable and community activities.”

Earlier, on the day of Ms Kirkham’s resignation, the Cornwall spokesperson for Reform UK questioned whether it was right for two elected MPs to still stand as councillors.

Rob Parsonage said: “I contacted and subsequently wrote to Cornwall Council concerning two councillors in Cornwall, elected as MPs, apparently retaining their positions as councillors and asked if a local by-election would be the right course of action given a full-time role in Parliament and a demanding role in the council since the number of councillors was reduced from 123 to 87.

“The response from a Cornwall Council solicitor stated that there is no requirement for a councillor to resign upon election as an MP. This seems strange given Keir Starmer’s vision of improving standards in public life and MPs holding two jobs, with one as an MP.”