Latest news with #Rita Hewitt
Telegraph
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Reform councillor resigns so wife can enter flower show
A Reform UK councillor has resigned so his wife can enter their town's annual flower show. Tony Hewitt, 65, said his wife Rita's happiness was more important than his political career. Mrs Hewitt, 77, who lives in Ferryhill, County Durham, won last year's competition for the front garden category and was also awarded second place for her back garden. However, the winners are decided by Ferryhill town council. As Mr Hewitt became a councillor in May, he was told she would not be able to compete in this year's Ferryhill in Bloom competition. To avoid a conflict of interest and accusations of bias, he decided to step down. 'When I found out that this year she wouldn't get to put herself forward after all her hard work, I thought I am not really losing anything by giving it up without even getting my feet under the table,' he told the BBC. He continued: 'She loves her garden. I don't have a lot to do with the garden at all; it is all my wife's doing. 'She grows plants from seed and brings them on in the greenhouse – it is her baby. '[If a] councillor or a councillor's wife won the competition, then people could look at that and start wondering what is going on.' Mr Hewitt, who is already the chairman of the residents' association, joined the council 'to do something for the community'. 'There weren't enough applicants to hold an election, I was just appointed,' he said. 'There are 17 councillor places for Ferryhill town council and at the moment there are only seven councillors.' Mr Hewitt resigned in June, after less than two months as a councillor. The town council said it had not received enough nominations for an election to take place, meaning the new councillor will have to be co-opted. Anyone wanting to take up the role was told to fill out an application form by Aug 13. This year's winner of the garden competition will be announced by the council in September.
BBC News
31-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ferryhill town councillor resigns after wife barred from flower show
A town councillor says his wife's happiness is more important after he stepped down to allow her to enter an annual flower Hewitt has lived in Ferryhill, County Durham, with his wife Rita for seven years and said they take delight entering the annual Ferryhill in Bloom was appointed to Ferryhill Town Council on 1 May, representing Reform UK, but as it judges the contest he decided to resign when it became clear she could not compete after "working hard" all Hewitt said some people had challenged him over his decision but he replied: "She loves her garden." Last year, the couple came first in the contest for their front garden and second for their Hewitt said: "I don't have a lot to do with the garden at all, it is all my wife's doing."She grows plants from seed and brings them on in the greenhouse - it is her baby." The 65-year-old said he applied to join the town council to "do something for the community". He is already chairman of the residents' association. "There weren't enough applicants to hold an election, I was just appointed," he said."There are 17 councillor places for Ferryhill Town Council and at the moment there are only seven councillors."Mr Hewitt had only been in the post for a month and attended one meeting before he was told his wife, 77, would not be able to compete. He stood down on 26 June."When I found out that this year she wouldn't get to put herself forward after all her hard work I thought I am not really losing anything by giving it up without even getting my feet under the table."Mr Hewitt said he fully understood the situation and said if a "councillor or a councillor's wife won the competition then people could look at that and start wondering what is going on".The results of Ferryhill in Bloom 2025 will be announced in September. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
