A LOCAL councillor who was once a leading light in the emergence of Reform UK across the borough and was, according to an exit poll, poised to become an MP in the last election will resign from his role at the end of the year, the Chronicle can reveal.

Coun David White, who represents the Rockingham ward, was initially elected to the council as a member of the Conservative Party in 2022.

However, later that year he resigned from the party and instead switched his allegiance to Reform UK - making him the first councillor from the party in the town hall.

He subsequently stood as the Parliamentary candidate for Barnsley South last year in the general election where he received a total of 11,651 votes - ultimately losing out to current MP Stephanie Peacock.

The exit polls suggested he had a 99 per cent chance of taking the seat away from Labour, but the votes eventually told another story.

Earlier this year, he stepped back from Reform and has been an independent councillor since then.

However, Coun White confirmed to the Chronicle that yesterday morning he handed in his notice to the council and will officially step away from the town hall on December 31.

He had not attended a full council meeting since May 22 or a South Area Council meeting this year due to personal circumstances.

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The last meeting he did attend was a Standards Regulatory Board in the town hall on July 10.

However he told the Chronicle that he has still been dealing with residents’ concerns during this time.

Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 states that if a member of a local authority fails throughout a period of six consecutive months from the date of their last attendance to attend any meeting of the authority, they shall cease to be a member of the authority.

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The Chronicle understands no by-election will be held for a replacement and the Rockingham ward will continue with two councillors, Sherry Holling and Andy Wray.

Coun White told the Chronicle: “I wrote to Sarah Norman, chief executive of Barnsley Council, to explain that significant changes to my personal situation have made my role as ward councillor for Rockingham increasingly difficult to carry out, including the attendance at key meetings this year.

“I have resigned my position as of December 31, giving me a short time to resolve some outstanding resident issues.”