A WOULD-BE councillor who missed out on her place because of an electoral mistake has been denied her seat for a second time.

Karen Groucott received more than 300 votes in May’s local election, so it was therefore a surprise to some when her husband Peter Groucott was announced as one of the winners - despite polling the third lowest number of votes with 189 and she did not get a seat.

But when the returning officer read out Mr Groucott’s name as a Councillor for Silloth Town Council by mistake, electoral law dictated that the result announced in error must stand.

And now, someone else who didn’t stand for the local elections in May has been co-opted onto the council in Mrs Groucott’s place.

Members voted in favour of Paul Donald by five votes to four. The move has provoked uproar among councillors who wanted to see the vote of the town’s people respected, with three walking out in disgust after the vote of the secret ballot was revealed.

Mrs Grocoutt, a higher level teaching assistant, said of the vote: “It’s not right that they’ve gone against the vote of the people. I’m disappointed that these council members didn’t want to go with what the public voted for in the first place.”

Silloth town council say proper procedure was followed, with the vacancy advertised for 14 days as required by law, and because there was no request for an election, the town council could then proceed with co-opting.

They added that on June 10, Mr Donald received the majority of votes and was co-opted onto the council.