South West Devon MP defends dual roles after calls to resign from Plymouth City Council

South West Devon MP and Plymouth City Councillor Rebecca Smith has defended her decision to continue serving on Plymouth City Council until 2026, despite calls from two independent councillors for her to step down early.

As reported by Local Democracy Reporter Alison Stephenson, Independent councillors Patrick Nicholson and Terri Beer have said Smith’s limited attendance at council meetings since becoming an MP raises questions about whether she can effectively serve in both roles.

According to attendance records cited by the pair, Smith, who represents Plymstock Radford on Plymouth City Council, was scheduled to attend meetings on 16 May, 2 June and 15 September, but sent apologies on each occasion. 

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Her only attendance recorded since the start of the municipal year was for 21 minutes as a substitute at a planning committee meeting in June.

Cllr Nicholson said: “Councillor Smith has the privilege of representing us in parliament and we need her there full time, standing up and holding the government to account for all residents of her constituency.”

Cllr Beer added: “Being a member of parliament is a big enough job in itself and we all know there are numerous issues we need Cllr Smith to raise on our behalf. It just isn’t right for her to continue to be an absent Plymouth councillor.”

The pair said they intend to submit a motion at the next full council meeting calling on Smith to resign her seat ahead of the May 2026 local elections.

Smith: “I remain fully committed to both roles”

When approached for comment, Smith told The Moorlander that she intends to continue serving her full council term, and rejected the suggestion that she is failing to represent her ward.

She said: “I remain fully committed to serving both as the Member of Parliament for South West Devon and as a councillor for Plymstock Radford on Plymouth City Council. As I have previously said, I will serve my council term until my term of office ends in May 2026.

“While some may focus on council attendance, the role of a councillor is much more than attending meetings. Over the past year, I have been actively supporting residents across my council ward through casework, community engagement, and local initiatives. I have handled hundreds of individual cases from constituents in Plymstock Radford, supported local schools, and worked to strengthen community services.

“Notably, I helped secure the new Post Office for Plymstock, ensuring this essential service remained accessible to the community. I have also taken action to address anti-social behaviour in Hooe and Mount Batten, pushed for urgent action by the council to remove the unauthorised encampment at Plymstock Cricket Club and restore the cricket field, and held South West Water to account over issues at the local sewage plant.”

Smith added that her attendance meets the statutory requirement for councillors to attend at least one meeting every six months:

“In terms of meetings, I have ensured I attend at least one meeting every six months, the minimum legal requirement.”

ABOVE: Rebecca Smith MP at Prime Minister's Questions (Credit: Rebecca Smith MP)

Donations to community projects

Smith also addressed questions about her councillor allowance, saying she has chosen to donate the money back into local causes rather than retain it personally.

“To date, my councillor allowance has included a £3,000 donation to restore the Plymstock cricket field following the removal of travellers several months ago, a £500 donation to Light-up Plympton to ensure the Christmas lights go ahead this year, and various small donations to local community groups.

“I will also be providing funds to give young people who otherwise might not be able to afford to, the opportunity to come to Parliament for work experience. I will continue to put this money back into the community I am proud to serve both as their Councillor and their MP.”

ABOVE: Plymstock Cricket Club (Credit: Google Maps)

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“A costly and unnecessary by-election”

Addressing the suggestion from Cllrs Nicholson and Beer that she could resign without triggering a by-election, Smith said that was “incorrect”, explaining that doing so before 11 November 2025 would in fact require one to be held.

“If I were to resign prior to the 11th November 2025, a by-election would be triggered, costing up to £30,000. If I were to resign after this point, Plymstock Radford would be left without a councillor for six months and, as such, would lose access to the Living Streets fund and Community Grant that I receive to spend in my capacity as a councillor.”

She argued that remaining in post until 2026 ensures residents continue to benefit from those funds and from her ongoing local work.

“With this in mind, I should note that the proposed motion of notice will achieve nothing. Councillors cannot force me to resign in this way. Providing I attend at least one meeting in every six months, I remain a councillor. It is an unnecessary political stunt that seeks to position the leader of the Independent Alliance as Shadow Leader of the council at the expense of the residents of Plymstock Radford.”

What happens next

The motion from Nicholson and Beer is expected to be brought before Plymouth City Council at its next full meeting. 

Even if passed, it would not be legally binding, councillors cannot compel another elected member to resign.

Smith has confirmed that a Conservative candidate has already been selected to stand in her place when all council seats come up for election in May 2026.

For now, the MP-councillor says she intends to “see the job through”, balancing her parliamentary duties with local commitments in Plymstock Radford.