The North Yorkshire councillor for Eastfield has announced his immediate resignation meaning a by-election will have to be held.
Councillor Tony Randerson, the Social Justice Party’s (SJP) representative for the Eastfield ward in Scarborough, has announced that he will be stepping down from the authority with immediate effect on Friday, May 2.
The councillor, who represented the ward for 12 years, said his reasons for stepping down were
“very personal and certainly not political in any form”.
He had served as a councillor since 2013 for the former North Yorkshire County Council as well as the former Scarborough Borough Council. He was an elected member for North Yorkshire Council following the launch of the authority in April 2023.
In 2023, he resigned from his role as a councillor on the unitary authority and from the Labour Party over concerns about the party’s political direction and leadership.
He successfully won the by-election as a Social Justice Party candidate.
North Yorkshire Council say that a by-election will be triggered if two electors from the North Yorkshire area request a poll. It will then take place within 35 working days of the requests. If no requests are received, the seat will remain vacant until the next scheduled elections for the council in 2027. All requests for a by-election regarding this vacancy can be sent to the Proper Officer, County Hall, Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8AD or via email at elections@northyorks.gov.uk
Mr Randerson has already endorsed a party colleague as his preferred successor, stating that
“Eastfield deserves a socialist councillor”.
“During my tenure, I have overseen changes on the estate, and I look forward to the fruition of the long-awaited works yet to be completed on the High Street, along with the proposed community park on the site of the old Overdale School.”
At the Eastfield by-election in 2023, the Liberal Democrats came second, followed by Labour and the Conservative Party.
Commenting on his resignation, a spokesperson for the Social Justice Party said:
“We would like to pay tribute and heartfelt thanks to Tony Randerson who is retiring from his position as North Yorkshire Councillor – he has been a dedicated public servant both as a trade unionist and a councillor.
“Devoted to the people of Eastfield, he has tried to address the many struggles facing local groups and communities.
“He has had a great relationship with Eastfield’s vibrant network of community groups, including youth facilities, football clubs, the veterans’ group, and several support groups.”
Councillor Randerson said he hoped residents would remember his tenure “with fondness” and added:
“If you see an old lad in a white cap, stop me and have a chat.”
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