The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Labour councillor resigns for health reasons
Labour councillor Ikra Yasin has resigned from Peterborough City Council (PCC), having represented Park ward since 2019.
Ms Yasin is the ward’s second councillor to announce their resignation this year after former Labour group leader Cllr Shaz Nawaz said that he would step back last month.
But while Cllr Nawaz will remaininpostuntil13March, Ms Yasin has stepped down with immediate effect.
She said that she went on “for as long as I could”, but that bereavement and health issues meant that she needed to take a break.
“I’ve had two bereavements over the last six months,” Ms Yasin said. “I lostmynaninSeptemberand then my granddad in December and that came as a huge shock to me because I was practically raised by them.
“I’ve also got my own health issues as a stroke survivor and all of this collectively
has impacted my health. I did try to go on for as long as I could.”
PCC’s Labour group has lost numerous councillors since the last election including Cllr Ansar Ali, who now sits as an Independent, and Cllr Imtiaz Ali, who sits as a Green
Both men say that they were told they were not fit to stand for re-election with Labour in May by party officials before they chose to leave.
But Ms Yasin says that she remains a member of the Labour Party and will continue “supporting local members and councillors” as Chair of the CLP (Constituency Labour Party), having been elected to this role on Thursday last week.
Sheaddedthatitwasa“really, really tough decision” to step down, especially so close to the local elections.
The former councillor, who was just 22 years old when she was elected in 2019, addedthatshe’s“notgoinganywhere” and will be “looking tocomebackonedayafterI’m feeling better”.
Labour group leader Cllr Dennis Jones said: “Ikra’s resignation has come as a real shock. The most important thing is that Ikra takes time outnowandthatsherecovers as fully as possible and she’s gotthesupportofeveryonein the Labour group.’’
Cllr Jones added that Labour “will always stand a full slate of candidates” in local elections.