Councillor quits after multiple conduct breaches

A Herefordshire councillor has resigned after several breaches of his council's code of conduct - including a row with a member of the public.

Ewen Sinclair quit Ledbury Town Council, where he sat as an independent, following years of disputes about his behaviour.

Sinclair, who was first elected to the Ledbury West ward unopposed in 2021, said: "I've don't have anything to hide - people in Ledbury know I've done a good job for the town."

The council said it had upheld "a number of complaints" against him in recent years.

Sinclair was first censured in 2022 after he "mocked the use of gender pronouns", following an investigation by a Herefordshire Council officer.

Then in February 2024, he was again found to have breached the code of conduct after a row with the council about a paving job at the town's war memorial.

His third breach occurred in February last year, after an angry exchange with a resident over proposals to extend the licensing hours of The Barn, an arts venue in the town.

A fourth code of conduct complaint about an email spat with town council staff, dating back to September last year, was still unresolved.

Sinclair told the BBC he felt he was being "stitched up" by being honest and outspoken.

"I was elected unopposed in 2021 and I've been a constant thorn in [the council's] side," he said.

"What you see is what you get with me - I don't have anything to hide.

"I actually feel quite good about things, because I don't have to put up with any of it any more.

"People in Ledbury know I've done a lot for the town, I've assisted residents with all sorts of things."

Sinclair, a former Conservative, said he was now a member of Reform UK and intended to help the party in next year's Herefordshire Council elections.

Councillor Liz Harvey, chair of the town council, said: "On behalf of Ledbury Town Council, I can confirm that Mr Sinclair has tendered his resignation as a town councillor.

"Since joining the council Mr Sinclair has had a number of code of conduct complaints investigated and upheld against him.

"On each occasion, Mr Sinclair has refused to comply with the recommendations of the monitoring officer as regards undertaking relevant training and making appropriate apologies for his actions.

"A further complaint regarding his behaviour is about to be determined."

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