A motion calling for Andrew Bridgen to resign as a MP for North West Leicestershire has been narrowly defeated yesterday evening (Tuesday).

Labour councillor Sean Sheahan put forward the motion which was heard at North West Leicestershire District Council's full council meeting.

The North West Leicestershire Labour Group leader called for Mr Bridgen to stand down after he was expelled by the Conservative Party and then joined Reclaim, while staying on as an MP for the constituency.

Councillors voted on the motion, and the result was tied at 19 for and against.

That went the deciding vote went to the council chairman, Cllr Ray Morris, who voted against.

But the debate drew some strong opinions on Mr Bridgen - both in support and in opposition to the politician who won the North West Leicestershire seat in 2019, as a Conservative, with a majority of 20,400.

Some felt that the time was not right for by-election, despite being highly critical of Mr Bridgen.

Labour councillor John Legrys suggested that Mr Bridgen's well-publicised views on Covid vaccines had made the area a 'laughing stock'.

North West Leicestershire Labour leader Sean Sheahan put the motion to councillors. Photo: North West Leicestershire Labour Group

But council leader, Cllr Richard Blunt, added that there more important matters to discuss and that the district council had 'no control' over Mr Bridgen's intentions.

He also said the Labour motion was 'showboating'.

Cllr Sheahan told councillors: "Mr Bridgen said in an interview on LBC that Anna Soubry was hypocritical for not standing for re-election after she quit the Conservative Party.

"Now, he could hardly put it about for people to be hypocrites, when he's doing the same thing himself.

"So he trots out the excuse that having a by-election, followed by a General Election, is too much of an imposition.

"He says that democracy is okay, as long as it's not inconvenient.

"The only person that democracy is inconvenient to is Andrew Bridgen."

Cllr Sheahan added that Mr Bridgen has sealed himself in a 'credibility vacuum' and that the council cannot accept 'anything of benefit' from the MP.

Cllr Blunt responded strongly to the motion and said: "There are a number of issues the Labour Party could've raised.

"Instead, what we have is something out of our control.

"It's almost as if Sir Keir Starmer had told the Labour leader: 'Forget local issues, just focus on the General Election.

"If that's the case, it's an extremely poor way of thanking the people who came out and voted for them. This is pure showboating."

Cllr Eynon said: "North West Leicestershire's MP is using his position to undermine public confidence in mass vaccination. And he is doing so with impunity.

"Without having to fact the consequences. I do not believe he is currently representing his constituents' best interests.

"I call on his Parliamentary colleagues to do the right thing for the people of North West Leicestershire as he is clearly incapable of doing it himself."

Cllr Richard Blunt described the Labour motion as 'showboating'. Image: North West Leicestershire District Council

Cllr Nick Rushton supported Cllr Blunt on the motion.

He said: "Under the current rules, he doesn't have to resign. I don't agree with his decision to join Reclaim, or his views on Covid.

"But he is a hard working local MP and still has meetings with the council's chief executive.

"The maximum he has is one year anyway. Motions like this are a waste of time, he's not going to resign.

"It destroys what relationship we have with him. We have to respect he was elected with a huge majority."

Liberal Democrat councillor, Michael Wyatt said: "In my opinion, Mr Bridgen has been the worst MP we've ever had.

"When he joined the Reclaim Party, I said he'd lost all credibility."

Cllr Legrys said: "When I mentioned Andrew Bridgen to people on holiday, they knew who he was, they didn't have a clue where North West Leicestershire was. We're becoming a laughing stock.

Liberal Democrat councillor, Michael Wyatt, said Andrew Bridgen was 'the worst MP we've had' but did not want a by-election and voted against the motion. Photo: North West Leicesterhire Distrcit Council

"I resent he's using his position as an MP to promote some of the things he's mentioning.

"From the door knocking I've done in recent week, people are telling me they are getting radio silence from Andrew Bridgen.

"I feel he's not only letting himself down, but he's letting the whole of the district down and he needs to go."

Cllr Sheahan concluded: "I think the Tories want him gone too, but they know that if there's a by-election, they'll lose.

"I believe this motion will be popular with the public and I've had letters of support."