Labour MP insists she will not stand down from her job on district council

A NOTTINGHAMSHIRE MP has defended her “poor attendance” at council meetings after Reform UK said she should step down from her second job.

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Jo White, elected Labour MP for Bassetlaw at last year's general election, continues to represent Worksop East on Bassetlaw District Council.

She says she will not be stepping down from that role to avoid a costly by-election. The council is set to be abolished by 2027 as talks continue on a huge shakeup of Nottinghamshire’s boundaries.

But Reform's Bassetlaw branch says two years is still a long time and that Jo White's attendance record at council meetings is a cause for concern.

The council's website shows that since being elected, she has only been present for 28% of the meetings she was supposed to be at.

Apologies were sent in for 69% of Ms White's absences and Joanne Morton, chair of Reform's Bassetlaw branch, says she should step down.