Reform county councillor resigns after a year

A Reform UK councillor has resigned after a year in post, citing "personal circumstances and wider pressures in my life".

James Sidlow, who was elected to represent the Ramsey and Bury ward on Cambridgeshire County Council in May 2025, resigned on Friday, according to the authority's website.

Sidlow sat on the children and young people committee. His departure leaves Reform with seven councillors, but it is still the third-largest party at the authority.

The council's chief executive, Stephen Moir, said the authority had received "formal notification" from Sidlow that "he was resigning from his office... with immediate effect".

Sidlow said: "This has been an extremely difficult decision and one I take with genuine regret.

"It has been a privilege to serve the residents of Ramsey and Bury and to represent a community I care deeply about.

"However, due to personal circumstances and wider pressures in my life, I no longer feel able to give the role the time, energy, and focus that residents rightly deserve from their county councillor."

The council's Reform group leader, Stefan Fisher, called Sidlow a "man of integrity" and wished him and his family "the absolute best for their future".

It is anticipated that a by-election will now take place, just a few weeks after it was confirmed another would happen after the conviction of Reform councillor Andy Osborn, who was found guilty of breaking electoral law.

Moir said: "Following receipt of Mr Sidlow's resignation, a notice of vacancy has been published on 1 June 2026, and once a by-election has been called, this will be arranged.

"Further details will be published in due course."

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