BRITAIN’S only elected communist has retired. Willie Clarke, 83, has decided to step down as an elected member of Fife Council after 43 years of service.
Clarke, chaired his last constituency meeting on Wednesday and has decided to step down a year ahead of the 2017 local government elections.
However, he assures he will not leave public life entirely.
Clarke told a newspaper: “I had hoped to see things through to the council elections next May, but over the past few months one or two problems have made it difficult to be able to be as committed as I want to be, to this very important job.”
He continued: “My wife Betty has not been well and she has been a key part of my personal team, answering the door and the phone and being able to provide a key link with the public.
“So it is time to call it a day.
“But I will not be going away completely.
“While I do not feel up to being able to fulfill the role as a councillor, I intend to continue to work with the various community groups I am on.”
The Communist Party do still have around 1,000 members and last year stood just nine candidates in the general election.
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