Home Office Minister and Bassetlaw MP Jo White steps down as councillor
Bassetlaw MP Jo White has resigned as councillor for the Worksop East Ward, 14 years after she was first elected to the role.
In a statement, Ms White said: "I have stepped down as a councillor on Bassetlaw District Council after taking advice from senior officials. I want to be clear that I am not resigning as a Member of Parliament.
“My ministerial responsibilities can, at times, overlap with the work of local government, creating the risk of potential conflicts of interest between the two roles. I believe stepping down is the right decision.
“It has been a privilege to represent Worksop East as a district councillor for more than fourteen years and to have served for almost a decade as Deputy Leader of Bassetlaw District Council.
"I deeply value these years of service to our community.
“I am proud of what we have achieved. This includes creating the Middletons Yard business hub to support start-ups and small businesses, redevelopment of the Vesuvius site, and laying the groundwork for thousands of new jobs in Bassetlaw.
"Making our area a better place remains at the heart of everything I do.
“I remain fully committed to representing the people of Bassetlaw as the Member of Parliament and serving our country as a Home Office Minister."
The casual vacancy for the office of councillor for Worksop East Ward is now advertised on Bassetlaw District Council website, stating that a by-election to fill the vacancy will be called within 35 days 'if two electors for the Local Government Area make a request in writing that an election be held to the Returning Officer'.
Ms White, 62, became MP for Bassetlaw in 2024, and in July this year was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office by Prime Minister Andy Burnham.