Margate county councillor Clive Hart has quit his role in Labour’s shadow cabinet at Kent County Council to concentrate his efforts further on his hometown.

Cllr Hart, who was the shadow member for children, families and education, said: “It has been a truly rewarding experience and I am very grateful to my colleagues for giving me the privilege and to KCC education officers for all their help, cooperation and patience.

“Representing an area as diverse as Margate and Cliftonville is a very busy job and I have done everything I possibly could to stay ahead in that respect. There are many serious issues currently affecting this area and I want to be absolutely free to focus on them without distraction.”

He is also a district councillor for Cliftonville West, chair of governors at Laleham Gap Special School and management committee member at the Royal School for Deaf Children in Margate.