A Kent county councillor who is standing for Reform UK in Greenwich has faced criticism for his apparent intention to serve on two different councils simultaneously. Alan Cecil, who represents Wilmington in Dartford on Kent County Council, is also a candidate for Reform in the Woolwich Common ward in the upcoming Greenwich Council elections on May 7.
Candidacy Sparks Debate
Mr Cecil, who serves as Chairman of Reform's Greenwich branch, lists his home address in Dartford. This has raised questions about his ability to effectively represent Woolwich Common residents while already holding a council seat in Kent.
Siama Qadar, a fellow Reform candidate for Eltham Page ward, defended Mr Cecil, noting that he was born and raised in Woolwich and works in the area. According to Ms Qadar, Mr Cecil 'knows the area inside out.' However, Mr Cecil did not respond to requests for comment from the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Criticism from Council Leader
Greenwich Council Leader Anthony Okereke, who is seeking re-election in Woolwich Common, was critical of Mr Cecil's candidacy. He questioned whether Mr Cecil could handle the workload of two council seats and whether he possessed the local knowledge needed to be a successful borough councillor.
'If you want to serve a ward, you must be there. You must be on the ground,' Cllr Okereke said. He noted that Reform, along with the Greens and Conservatives, pulled out of hustings, adding: 'It's a shame... what they would have seen was a very active councillor who can speak to every single issue in my ward, and I don't think he would be able to do that. You can't be a councillor if you're serving two different areas. It just doesn't work that way.'
Borough of Sanctuary Status
Cllr Okereke also condemned Reform's intention to withdraw Greenwich's status as a Borough of Sanctuary, calling it 'a very cruel position to take.' Greenwich was awarded Borough of Sanctuary status in 2023, recognising it as an area that welcomes refugees, migrants, and those seeking sanctuary.
'If you were to abolish our sanctuary status, how are you being welcoming to the Ukrainians? We are a country of sanctuary,' Cllr Okereke said. 'It's been in our blood for years from World War One to World War Two, we've always been a borough of sanctuary and a country of sanctuary.'
Other Non-Resident Candidates
Mr Cecil is one of only three candidates in next month's Greenwich Council elections who do not live in the borough. D.J. Cracknell, standing for the Green Party in Woolwich Dockyard, lives in East Sussex, a journey of one-and-a-half hours by car or three-and-a-half hours by public transport to Woolwich. A Green Party spokesperson said Mr Cracknell lived in the ward from 2000 until early last year and would return if elected.
Aileen Davis, standing for the Conservatives in Woolwich Arsenal, lives in Sidcup in Bexley, just across the borough border.
