A by-election has been called after a Redbridge councillor stepped down.

Bayo Alaba, who was elected to be Labour MP for Southend East and Rochford in July, is no longer listed as a councillor.

He had previously represented the Wanstead Park ward alongside Sheila Bain, the current mayor of Redbridge.

The notice was issued on September 17 by Redbridge Council’s interim chief executive Adrian Loades.

In order for a by-election to be called, two people on the electoral register must make a formal request to the council that one takes place.

A date has not yet been formally confirmed for the vote.

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The Labour Party is expected to focus its attention on the area, as its grasp on the borough appears to be weakening amid upset over the Gaza conflict.

Jas Athwal, the former leader of Redbridge Council, was also elected as a Labour MP.

However, his majority of 6,896 was considerably lower than his predecessor Sam Tarry’s, who held Ilford South for Labour in 2019 with a majority of 24,101.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting, the MP for Ilford North, came within 530 votes of losing his seat to independent candidate Leanne Mohamad.

Mr Alaba was one of the 243 new Labour MPs elected on July 4.

The former paratrooper succeeded long-standing Conservative MP Sir James Duddridge, who stepped down after 19 years.

As an MP, he is part of the cross-party Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which regulates the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Despite also being elected to the House of Commons, Cllr Athwal has stayed on as a Labour councillor.

He is listed as one of three representatives for the Mayfield ward, alongside deputy leader Vanisha Solanki and pension committee chief Tanweer Khan.

He has faced numerous calls to resign after a BBC investigation in September revealed the squalid state of his rental properties in Ilford.

At the time, he was “shocked and sickened” to learn of the state of his homes and sacked his letting agent.

Though many were outraged by the investigation, other campaigners said they were concerned he would not be able to balance his duties as a councillor and Member of Parliament.

Neither Cllr Athwal nor Redbridge Labour responded to a request for comment.