Ashfield District Council leader Jason Zadrozny has announced he will stand as a candidate to become MP for the area at the next General Election.
The Ashfield Independent politician was runner-up in the 2019 race for the Ashfield seat.
He will challenge current Conservative MP Lee Anderson.
Cllr Zadrozny made the announcement during a full council meeting on Monday (November 27), moments after he apologised to Mr Anderson, who is also the Conservative party deputy chairman.
A formal complaint had been submitted after Cllr Zadrozny described Mr Anderson “as thick as mince” during a previous council meeting.
Cllr Zadrozny apologised for using the phrase, and then went on to criticise Mr Anderson.
He said: “In apologising tonight – I announce my intention to stand against Mr Anderson in the next General Election – our communities in Ashfield deserve better. The people of Ashfield deserve somebody who delivers results… not delivers national ridicule and embarrassment.”
Mr Anderson won the seat for the Conservatives at the 2019 General Election, with 19,231 votes. Cllr Zadrozny was second with 13,498. Labour had held the seat since 1979 but the party’s Natalie Fleet finished third on 11,971 votes.
Cllr Zadrozny is currently facing a crown court trial on 12 counts of fraud by false representation, and four counts of income tax evasion, which he has pleaded not guilty to.
The trial is set for February 2025 at Northampton Crown Court, while the next General Election must be held before January 2025.
Following Cllr Zadrozny’s comments, Mr Anderson said: “We live in a democracy and he is quite entitled to stand.
“I wish him well.”
