A LABOUR Councillor representing a London Borough will continue to receive taxpayer cash and maintain his seat, despite permanently moving over 1,000 miles away to live in Italy.
Merton councillor Dave Ward made the move in July after buying a house in Palata, in the region of Molise.
Facing criticism from local residents, the Labour Councillor gave the excuse that he was only in Italy “getting his new home ready”, and that he would not stand for re-election in May 2022.
This means, however, that Ward will continue to claim a large sum of taxpayer cash each month during his time in office.
Ward isn’t the only Labour Councillor to have emigrated yet held onto their seat this year.
In February of this year, Votewatch revealed that Liverpool Cllr Malcolm Kennedy, who represents the Kirkdale ward, had decided to live permanently in Spain with his wife, while refusing to resign from his role as a councillor.
Kennedy continues to be paid as a Liverpool councillor, despite not visiting the ward he represents, and despite many locals claiming they have never seen him.
