Gedling Councillor Michael Payne has announced he will stand down as the deputy leader for a group representing Labour councillors across the country.
He says he will give his bid to win the Gedling seat at the next general election his “undivided attention”.
Cllr Payne has served as the deputy leader of the Local Government Association’s Labour Group for the last seven years.
He is Labour’s candidate for Gedling at the next General Election, due to be held by the end of the year. The seat is currently held by Conservative Tom Randall.
Cllr Payne’s role as deputy leader of Gedling Borough Council, where he has sat since 2011, will be unaffected.
“For seven years I’ve had the tremendous privilege and honour to serve as Deputy Leader for almost 7,000 Labour councillors across the UK – each and every one of them a Labour hero.” He said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
“I’ve decided not to seek re-election as LGA Labour Deputy Leader and will stand down in late summer.
“The greatest way I can repay the trust of our fantastic Labour local government family is by working flat out to play my part in electing a Labour government that will back them every step of the way – that means giving my undivided attention to winning back Gedling for Labour.”
He added: “For almost a decade of serving as a LGA Labour Group Officer, I’ve been blessed to serve alongside the most inspiring, kind, dedicated and compassionate people I’ve ever met.”
Newark & Sherwood District Council leader Paul Peacock was amongst those to offer his thanks, saying: “Thanks for your hard work, commitment and a source of great advice.
“I’m sure you will have our back as you enter Parliament, we will have yours.”
The next General Election must be called by December 17 at the latest.
Gedling will be a seat Labour will be keen to pick up if they are to win the keys to Downing Street.
2019 was the first time it was won by the Conservative group since 1997, when Tom Randall defeated Vernon Coaker by just over 2000 votes.
Tad Jones has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate, according to the party’s website.
