MP gives up her councillor role

Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff has decided to retire from her role as a councillor in Pontefract .
MP Paula SherriffMP Paula Sherriff
MP Paula Sherriff

Miss Sherriff, who represented the Pontefract North ward on Wakefield Council, took the seat from the Conservatives’ Simon Reevell by a majority of 1,451 at the general election in May.

She was first elected as a councillor in Pontefract in 2012 and served the town for three years.

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Miss Sherriff said: “When I decided that I was going to stand to be an MP I always said I wouldn’t do two jobs.

“That isn’t a political point I just don’t agree with any MP doing two jobs.

“It wouldn’t have been fair on the people of Dewsbury or the people of Pontefract.”

Miss Sherriff said she will continue to fight changes to car parking at the district’s hospitals, including Dewsbury, which mean disabled blue badge holders now have to pay to park.

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She said: “I won’t give up the fight against the disabled parking charges at the district’s hospitals.

“I am determined to fight for what is right and what is moral.

“It is not a publicity stunt. I just won’t stand back and let it happen. It’s just not right.”

Miss Sherriff will be part of a group of cross-party MPs who will visit refugee camps in Palestine later this month.

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Miss Sherriff campaigned to keep Pontefract’s accident and emergency department open and also fought for changes at the town’s notorious Town End junction during her time as a councillor.

But after gaining the seat from the Tories in May, she has not taken any allowances from Wakefield Council and a by-election will be held next month to find her replacement.

She said: “It was a wonderful privilege to have been a councillor in Pontefract.

“It’s a great town and one that I will forever hold with great affection.

“There are some fantastic people doing some brilliant work and I’d like to thank everyone I worked with during my time.“I wish my successor all the best.”