As part of his consistent approach to openness and transparency, Babergh cabinet member Alastair McCraw, who is also the district council's Brantham ward member, has published his resignation letter to John Ward, following the removal of fellow peninsula ward councillor and portfolio Derek Davis.

Dear John,

After the 2019 Election, I was pleased to be able to support a cross-party administration to serve the entire Babergh Community. With no clear majority for any group, the Independent members focused on working with the widest number possible to that end.

That was the basis of the agreement that three separate groups were able to make. I regret that prejudices did not allow full participation of all members, a point made at the time.

For the first two years of that period, serving as Chairman of Scrutiny I was able to see a useful and functioning Cabinet doing its job, joining it myself in the last year.

To that point, a sensible civilised consensus Cabinet worked hard to improve our services and conduct the necessary hard work involved. It saw the district through the two worst years any Babergh council has faced, during the pandemic.

That was to the credit of all concerned and I would commend the Cabinet members and Babergh officers concerned. Ongoing improvements in the Council have laid down a bedrock for the future.

Since the introduction of a disruptive party-political element into your Cabinet, in the form of Councillors Barrett and Dawson, that isn't the case anymore. The Cabinet seems to no longer stand by its own previous decisions made for the benefit of the many, not the few. You have now dismissed Councillor Davis, the first Independent that you appointed, to please the few.

By your own admission, Derek had done sterling work in two portfolios in both your administrations. Being unable to make your own decisions as Leader now, you have made it clear that the ongoing intention is to serve narrow Conservative party interests first, presumably in preparation for the 2023 election.

I think that's both wrong and a huge mistake on your part. I am therefore resigning my Cabinet Post for Customers, Digital Transformation, and Improvement immediately.

This has no effect on my personal regard for you. That still stands. I have also appreciated the opportunity to perform roles in both the administration and Cabinet.

I offer my grateful thanks to all the officers involved in the directorate. It has been a privilege to work with them.

Yours sincerely,