Councillor Resigns Due to Work-related Move to London

Published on: 12 Mar, 2026
Updated on: 15 Mar, 2026

Cllr James Jones

A Lib Dem borough councillor for Onslow, James Jones, has resigned from Guildford borough Council and his resignation will trigger a by-election.

Recently, his personal circumstances have changed, and he has moved to London to be closer to his workplace.

Elected in 2023, Jones has represented residents in Onslow alongside his ward colleagues, Cllrs Angela Goodwin and Steven Lee. He was vice-chair of the Planning Committee.

Angela Goodwin, thanked James for his hands‑on approach to serving the community, highlighting his strong focus on local issues – particularly planning matters that directly affected residents.

Lib Dem council leader Julia McShane said: “The Liberal Democrat council group is sorry to be losing James. He has been a valued member of our administration and a strong voice for the residents he served in Onslow. We wish him the very best and hope he has the opportunity to continue his public service in the future.”

And Guildford Liberal Democrat party chair, Paul Hienkens, added: “We would like to express our sincere thanks to James for his hard work over the years – not only as a councillor, but also as our Campaign Organiser during the run‑up to the 2023 local elections, in which he was elected, and throughout the 2024 General Election.

“We wish him the very best and hope he has the opportunity to continue his public service in the future.”

James’ resignation creates a vacancy on Guildford Borough Council for the Onslow ward, which will require a by‑election. Political parties will be currently engaging with their members in order to select and announce a candidate.