A London councillor criticised for campaigning to become an MP in Bangladesh while representing constituents in Tower Hamlets has said she will step down.
Mile End councillor Sabina Khan confirmed she will not be standing in local elections in the UK in May.
Residents had called for Ms Khan to resign after she began campaigning to become a Bangladesh National Party (BNP) candidate at elections due to be held in the country in February.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed wrote to Tower Hamlets Council and said he was “appalled” that serving London councillors were trying to become MPs in another country.
Ms Khan was elected as a Labour councillor in Mile End in 2022 but defected to the borough’s ruling Aspire party last year.
She has missed more than half of the town hall meetings she was due to attend in east London this year because she was out of the country.
It is understood Ms Khan was unsuccessful at being selected as a BNB candidate but will continue to support the party at the upcoming polls.
Ms Khan said: “I have decided not to re-stand as a council candidate in Tower Hamlets in the election in May. It has been an honour to represent my community and serve residents as a representative on the council.”
Independent councillor Ohid Ahmed, who represents Lansbury ward in Poplar, was also campaigning to become a BNP candidate in Bangladesh.
He too has confirmed he will step down ahead of the local elections in London in May.
Tower Hamlets Council said the law “does not automatically disqualify” a person from being a councillor in the UK “solely because they are running for or hold an elected office in another country”.
But Mr Reed said it was particularly concerning because Government envoys were sent into the town hall last year over concerns about parties leadership, governance and culture.
In a letter to the local authority, the minister said: “I am appalled that any councillor elected by local people to serve their interests would even consider abandoning that commitment to campaign in another country.
“That journey requires a dedicated and fully engaged political leadership to grip and deliver the necessary change.
“I would urge you to do all you can to stop this situation and remind all councillors in the borough that their focus needs to be on helping the people of Tower Hamlets.”
