A by-election will be held in Enfield after a Conservative councillor stepped down from his post due to family and work commitments.

Jon Daniels, who represented the Bush Hill Park ward, resigned “with immediate effect” on Monday (September 24) – a decision he said was due to “the pressures of balancing a family and work life”.

In a statement posted on Bush Hill Park Residents’ Association website, Mr Daniels said: “I love my wife and my seven-year-old twins dearly.

“My family should come first but with a full-time job and the commitments of being a councillor I have been neglecting the needs of my family and my work.

“Therefore I took the decision to resign as councillor to re-address the balance, give my family the love, attention and commitment they deserve, and ensure that I am able to meet work commitments.”

Mr Daniels acknowledged it was a “difficult time for Enfield Conservatives”, two of whose members have recently been suspended while the party investigates allegations of racist behaviour.

Fellow Bush Hill Park Conservative Councillor William Coleshill was suspended for allegedly making racist comments about a Labour member during a full council meeting last week.

Stephanos Ioannou, Conservative member for Southgate, was suspended in July after sharing a Facebook post of a newspaper front page published following the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, which was headlined “Barbarians”.

Mr Daniels said: “It has been a difficult time for Enfield Conservatives and they need to regroup to pull together as an effective opposition to the Labour administration.

“Every Conservative councillor needs to be giving their all to scrutinise the decisions of the council to ensure decisions are in the best interests of all Enfield residents. I was not able to give my all.”

Mr Daniels’ departure means the Conservatives now have 14 members on Enfield Council – down from 17 following local elections in May this year.

Both Cllr Coleshill and Cllr Ioannou are currently serving as independent councillors.

Cllr Joanne Laban, leader of the opposition and Conservative Group, said: “Jon Daniels has resigned as a councillor due to increasing family and work commitments. He felt that he did not want to let down the residents of Bush Hill Park Ward so made the very difficult decision to resign.

“He believes that residents deserve someone to represent them that can give more time to the role than he can.

Conservative leader Cllr Joanne LabanConservative leader Cllr Joanne Laban

“There have been other people in the past who have been in a similar position who have just carried on doing the bare minimum so Jon’s choice to step down should be seen as the right thing to do in these circumstances.

“I believe we should respect his decision as he only wants the best for Bush Hill Park Ward and his family.”