Two councillors in Kensington and Chelsea tender their resignations

Breaking news from Kensington and Chelsea where it has been confirmed that two Conservative councillors have resigned.

Council Leader Merrick Cockell informed the rest of the Conservative group in the Royal Borough yesterday afternoon that he had accepted the resignations of Cllr Barry Phelps from Earl's Court ward and Mark Daley from Cremorne ward.

Their decisions follow a complaint to the Standards Committee about an alleged code of conduct breach relating to the use of the council email system.

By-elections are expected to be held on September 16th.

Jonathan Isaby

BECAUSE OF THE SENSTIVITY OF THE RESIGNATIONS WE ARE NOT OPENING THE THREAD TO COMMENTS.

5.45pm From the Kensington and Chelsea Chronicle: "Former Kensington and Chelsea mayor Councillor Barry Phelps fired off a series of emails to Councillor Mark Daley, displaying black and white images of young boys with sexually suggestive captions added by Mr Phelps... The emails were reported to the council by Justin Downes, leader of the Residents First campaign group, who had been alerted by a concerned resident. "These were innocent images and Councillor Phelps has created sexual overtones to them," Mr Downes said. "I think it's absolutely right for them to go when the council proclaims itself as a council which is absolutely intolerant of child abuse.""