"Jas Athwal has stood down as councillor"
Labour MP Jas Athwal has stood down as a councillor in Redbridge, triggering a by-election in the Mayfield ward on March 27, 2025.
Athwal was elected as the MP for Ilford South last July, replacing Sam Tarry, after a decade as leader of Redbridge Council.
His resignation comes months after he faced criticism over the poor condition of his rental homes.
A spokesperson for London Labour said:
“Jas Athwal has stood down as councillor for Mayfield ward and a by-election will take place on 27th March.”
Athwal remains listed as a councillor on Redbridge Council’s website. His departure will not impact his role as an MP.
Labour had expected all councillors elected as MPs to step down from their town hall roles.
Bayo Alaba, who won Southend East and Rochford for Labour, resigned as a Wanstead Park councillor in September.
During his tenure as council leader, Athwal played a big role in shaping housing policies in Redbridge.
He oversaw the development of affordable housing, though the borough fell behind on its targets.
One of his flagship projects was the Valentine’s Park lido, a development initially set to open in August 2024 but now scheduled for autumn this year.
In 2023, he was shortlisted for the Leader of the Year award at the LGIU and CCLA Cllr Awards.
His tenure also saw the introduction of various infrastructure and community initiatives aimed at modernizing the borough.
However, Jas Athwal’s leadership was marred by controversies in 2024.
An investigation exposed poor conditions in seven rental properties owned by him, including black mould and ant infestations. The findings led to calls for his resignation.
Later in the year, reports revealed that a failing children’s home, linked to an associate of his, had received six times its original council funding over a decade.
The Labour Party is expected to confirm its candidates for the by-election later this week.
Mayfield ward is a stronghold for the party, currently represented by Tanweer Khan and deputy leader Vanisha Solanki.
Labour dominates Redbridge Council with 55 seats, while the Conservatives hold five and three councillors sit as independents.
With the by-election set for March 27, attention will be on how the Labour Party navigates the contest amid the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Athwal’s tenure as both a councillor and MP.
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