Lord Lieutenant deputy resigns over Tory leaflet

A Crown-appointed dignitary who represented the King in Essex has resigned from her position after she appeared in Conservative Party election campaign material - despite her role being non-political.

Sue Jackson, a deputy lieutenant of Essex, appeared in a campaign leaflet for Stephen Metcalfe, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock.

As a representative of the King, both lord lieutenants and their deputies are publicly apolitical.

The Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Jennifer Tolhurst, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the leaflet was made "without consent".

The leaflet identified Mrs Jackson as headteacher of Lee Chapel Primary School in Basildon.

Ms Tolhurst said: "Last week it was learned that a political party had published an image of Mrs Sue Jackson – a headteacher – in a general election leaflet circulated to households in the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

"As soon as the perception of an inappropriate connection was drawn to her attention, Mrs Jackson voluntarily offered to step back from her duties as a deputy lieutenant."

Mr Metcalfe said that Mrs Jackson had agreed to be in the leaflet, but that she was "not supporting him".

"The comments were obviously made with Mrs Jackson’s knowledge and in her role as a very senior and experienced head, whom I have worked with and supported over the years, not in her role as a deputy lieutenant," he said.

"I am sorry that Sue has been put in this position and hope to see her continuing her role in public service in due course."

The leader of Basildon Council, Labour councillor Gavin Callaghan, said: "When we saw Mrs Jackson's endorsement in Stephen Metcalfe's leaflet we were all shocked.

"Labour asked for a full apology for the incident but we have been advised that Mrs Jackson will now be stepping down, which we think is the best thing.

"The Lord Lieutenant acted swiftly and we thank her for doing so."

Mrs Jackson has been contacted for a comment.

The full list of candidates standing in South Basildon and East Thurrock can be found here.

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