Rob Pitt – one of 3 successful Liberal candidates elected to East Cambridgeshire in May 2023 for Ely West ward – has resigned. Cllr Pitt said: “The scale and scope of my professional work in defence has expanded unexpectedly and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
“Having tried to balance my work with civic commitments, personal wellbeing, and most importantly my family, I feel I have no option but to resign as a councillor at district and city level.”
Cllr Pitt is a former senior military officer. He served in Iraq, Afghanistan, The Falklands and on Counter Violent Extremist Operations in Africa.
In over 20 years of service, he led units at nearly every level including at 16 Air Assault Brigade, as a NATO Battle Captain in Kandahar and as Commander of The London Scottish in Westminster.
He is a consultant for UK Defence and advises on military experimentation and it is the demands of that work which have, as he said, partly resulted in his decision to resign both as a city and district councillor.
“I regret this enormously, as it is a role I wanted to carry out to the best of my ability on behalf of the residents of the city I love,” he said.
“I have admired the warmth, generosity, and energy for progress of my Liberal Democrat council colleagues—core values that I would hope everyone would find appealing.
“It’s been a privilege to be part of a team which works so hard with the wellbeing of East Cambridgeshire and its residents first and foremost.”
He added: “I am sorry not to be able to continue in the role I was honoured to be elected to and wish my successors as Liberal Democrat candidates for district and city councils the very best as they gear up for an election.”
East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats group leader Cllr Lorna Dupré said: “Rob is a great colleague, and we will miss his input.
“He’s been insightful, caring, and ambitious for Ely, and it’s disappointing that his changed work commitments have meant it’s no longer possible for him to continue as a councillor. We wish him the very best.”
