LESS than 24 hours after sitting alongside his group leader when they together extolled the virtues of the ruling Conservative administration Stanford-le-Hope councillor James Halden has sprung a shock by quitting his role on Thurrock Council's cabinet - citing irreconcilable issues between himself and Cllr Rob Gledhill.

Cllr Halden, long-regarded as one of the Tory party's rising young stars and a

researcher working for Clacton MP Giles Watling, says he was asked to stand down by the council leader and he has done so.

"I am not going into the circumstances of my leaving - it doesn't serve anyone" says Cllr Halden who will remain in post as portfolio holder for education and health until 23 January, following the launch of a project he has spearheaded, the council's Special Education Needs and Disability 'Year of Inclusion'.

Cllr Halden has issued a lengthy statement about his resignation - and for the first time in public has spoken about his sexuality, telling of his pride at being the cabinet's first portfolio holder in a same sex relationship

He says: "It has been a tremendous honour to have served as cabinet member for education and health for the past four years. I am very proud of what we have achieved.

"I am also very proud of the fact that I have never ducked the hard stuff. Regardless if it was public protests over changes to children's centres or an entire election campaign in 2018 aimed at me over Orsett Hospital scaremongering - we never avoided doing what we thought was right.

"When you do a job like this, you see the best of people.

"I have been so lucky to work with amazing schools, health partners and be supported by some terribly talented officers and officials.

"It's been an amazing journey. I am proud to have held two of the biggest jobs in local government (at the same time), to have been the cabinet's first portfolio-holder in a same sex relationship, to have contributed to us being a historically young cabinet in 2017, to have chaired the campaigns that saw us take power in 2016 and hold on in 2019. I think I have made a contribution.

"I'm not going to go into the circumstances of my leaving - it doesn't serve anyone.

"However, I would simply say there are a number of irreconcilable issues with the Leader of the Council and he asked me to step down as a result.

"I am of course heartbroken to give up the post I've poured my heart and soul into for years, but I am touched by the colleagues who have offered me their support, but I would say 'keep calm and carry on'. Let's focus on serving the people.

"As for the future, I will sit as a loyal backbencher within the Conservative group and look forward to supporting some very talented Conservative candidates at the next election.

"Finally I'm very lucky that I get to serve my home town as their representative. The fine folk of the Homesteads elected me here when I was just 19 years old and have returned me ever since.

"Regardless of leaving cabinet, any opportunity to serve is a great honour and one which has certainly not been diminished."