Alnwick councillor resigns after getting elected as Tory MP in Yorkshire

Robbie Moore, one of two representatives for the Alnwick ward – which includes Alnmouth and Lesbury, was successful in his bid to be elected the Conservative MP for Keighley, in West Yorkshire, at the December General Election.

He had won his county council seat in 2017, serving alongside long-standing member and fellow Tory Gordon Castle, and also ran last summer to replace Dame Vera Baird as the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, losing out to Labour’s Kim McGuinness.

When a casual vacancy occurs, residents can call for a by-election to take place, but a spokesman for Northumberland Conservatives said that they will not be requesting a vote until the back end of March in the hope that it can then be held on the same day as the poll to elect a new Police and Crime Commissioner on Thursday, May 7.

However, the Tories have already chosen their candidate, revealing that Alnmouth-based hotel manager and former Alnwick publican, Reuben Carr, will represent them in the contest to replace Mr Moore, whenever it takes place.

A county council spokesman confirmed late last week that the required notice in writing from two electors to trigger a by-election has not yet been lodged.

Mr Moore referred to the refurbishment of the Alnwick Playhouse and the creation of new facilities for Alnwick Town Juniors as the highlights of his time as the ward member, while he said he was also pleased to have been involved in securing investment for the former Lindisfarne Middle School site and delivering new play facilities in Lesbury and Alnwick.

“I have really enjoyed my time as a councillor for Alnwick and I worked hard throughout my time to deliver for residents,” he said. “In Alnwick, Alnmouth and Lesbury, residents I spoke to were incredibly supportive of my decision to go on and stand for Parliament and I will always be incredibly grateful for that.

“I will also donate every penny of the allowance I received as a councillor since the General Election to good causes in the three parishes of Alnwick, Alnmouth and Lesbury. I hope that way I can continue to make a difference now that I have stopped representing the council division.

“I wish everyone in the Alnwick division all the best for the future.”

Mr Moore also served on Alnwick Town Council, a role from which he has also now formally resigned.

Keighley was one of four seats in West Yorkshire claimed by the Tories at the 2019 General Election, along with Wakefield, Colne Valley and Dewsbury.

Mr Moore defeated Labour's John Grogan by 2,218 votes.

Mr Grogan had taken the seat from Conservative Kris Hopkins in 2017, but by only 249 votes.

Speaking after the 2019 result, he said: "I’ll reflect and think about what to do next but I still want to play a part in Yorkshire politics, and also in the future direction of the Labour party."