REFORM UK’s only Wellington councillor has resigned from the town council, causing a vacancy which could be filled with a by-election or co-option.

Former Wellington mayor Cllr Marcus Barr had served on the town council for 10 years.

He was elected as a Conservative councillor but later resigned the party whip and became an Independent.

Cllr Barr rejoined the Conservatives and was elected to Somerset Council in 2022 as one of three councillors representing the town.

But he defected to Reform in March of this year.

Cllr Barr, an Army veteran, served a one-year term as the town’s mayor in 2023-24, when the Freedom of Wellington was bestowed on The Rifles regiment.

His daughter Zoe was also elected as a Conservative to the town council in 2022 and made history in August that year by becoming the first councillor to give birth during her term of office before she stepped down in May of last year.

Cllr Barr, who is known across a large part of Somerset for his window cleaning business, said there were a ‘lot of things’ going on in his life at the moment and he was unable to give the time he would have liked to his town council role.

He said by stepping down it would hopefully allow somebody who did have the time to take over and serve the town.

Cllr Barr said: “Our town councillors do a lot of really good work for the community and I am really proud to have been given the opportunity to lead them as mayor during my time on the council.”

A ‘casual vacancy’ has been declared by the town council which will trigger a by-election if at least 10 electors call in writing for one by September 26.

Otherwise, the council will look to co-opt a new member at its meeting on November 3.