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Green councillor who defeated council leader quits

News imageBBC/Simon Thake A woman (far left) and three men are standing in a row at an election count. Each person is wearing a different colour rosette. They are awaiting the outcome of an election count. Andy Davies, wearing beige trousers and a jumper stands second from the left. Tom Hunt, wearing a dark suit and sporting a large red rosette, stands with his hands clasped and his head down on the far right. BBC/Simon Thake
Andy Davies won the Walkley seat from Labour's Tom Hunt by just 73 votes in local elections on 7 May

The councillor who ousted Sheffield Council leader Tom Hunt by fewer than 100 votes has resigned three months after winning his seat, citing "personal reasons".

Labour's Hunt lost his Walkley seat to Green Party candidate Andy Davies by just 73 votes in the May local elections, effectively ending Hunt's three-year term as leader of the council.

"It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I am announcing my resignation as Walkley councillor due to my mental health and associated personal reasons," said Davies, in a statement on social media on Monday.

"I do not take this decision lightly, and apologise to everyone impacted by it."

News imageSheffield Green Party A man with shoulder-length brown hair and a beard. He is wearing glasses and a grey overcoat and stands in front of greenery, smilingSheffield Green Party
Andy Davies said he would be stepping back from political activity "for a time"

Davies said: "While I was prepared for the workload, I was not prepared for the huge weight of expectation and obligation I felt in the role, not just to the community and those who voted for me, but to those who campaigned tirelessly and continued to do so much to support me.

"This pressure and stress has manifested itself in unhealthy ways and has impacted myself and those around me.

"I will be taking a step back from all political activity for a time," the statement continued.

"I ask that people respect my wish for privacy at this time.

"Finally, I'd like to encourage anyone suffering from mental health issues to speak to a professional, or at least to your support network. There should be no shame."

News imageBBC/Simon Thake Tom Hunt: a man with glasses, wearing a dark jacket, white shirt and burgundy tie, pictured at the Sheffield election countBBC/Simon Thake
Tom Hunt had been leader of Sheffield Council for three years before his defeat in May

Davies has been a Green Party member since 2019, and previously ran his own environmental grounds maintenance service.

Following his resignation, Sheffield Green Party issued a statement thanking its volunteers, members and voters in Walkley, saying it knew people would be "shocked and saddened by this sudden news".

The statement said: "We would like to thank Andy Davies for his service, however brief. We wish him all the best with his mental health, and we respect his desire for privacy at this difficult time."

There will now be a by-election in Walkey to elect a new councillor. It will be the second by-election in Sheffield within a matter of months, after Independent councillor Gareth Slater resigned from his Southey seat.

The Southey by-election will be held on 27 August - a date has not yet been set for the Walkley vote.

There will be a further by-election at Barnsley Council, for Penistone East, after Kay Hughes resigned due to "personal reasons", eight weeks after being elected in May at the local elections.

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