THE Tories are calling for MP Imran Hussain to resign as a district councillor, saying he cannot commit to both roles.

The former deputy Council leader, who was elected as Labour MP for Bradford East in May, still holds a place on Bradford Council, representing Toller ward.

But he missed the full Council meeting in July and missed another last Tuesday.

Now the Conservative group on Bradford Council is calling for Cllr Hussain to step aside as a councillor and for a by-election to be called.

Its leader, Councillor Simon Cooke, said: "Since Cllr Hussain won the Bradford East Parliamentary seat during the elections in May, he has rarely been seen near City Hall and is not attending important meetings any more.

"Even his Labour colleagues and Council officers see him more on the BBC outside Westminster than they do inside City Hall.

"I recognise that now that he is an MP it is important for him to be in Westminster, representing Bradford East residents at a Parliamentary level and as a Parliamentary Private Secretary, supporting Jeremy Corbyn’s new leadership of the Labour Party.

"This should however not be at the expense of the residents of Toller Ward’s representation on Bradford Council.

"All of Bradford district’s residents deserve visible representation on the Council as well as in Parliament and it has become clear that Imran is no longer in a position to do both.

"My colleagues and I are thus calling upon him to stand down from the Council, allow the election of a replacement who can dedicate more time to the local interests of the residents of Toller."

But Cllr Hussain rebuffed these calls.

He said: "I do not take a Council allowance or a salary for the work that I do as a councillor, and I am accessible to all of my constituents.

"I am slightly concerned that Cllr Cooke wants to waste his energies on political knockabout rather than concentrating his efforts on the devastating record of his party’s cuts, like the cuts to tax credits and restricting local government funding, which are having a devastating impact on the lives of thousands of Bradfordians.

"However I am pleased that he is acknowledging the good work that I am doing in Westminster to represent all the people in Bradford by opposing the ideological cuts of this Government, but if I ever believe that I am unable to fulfil these duties, I will consider my position on Bradford Council."