A by-election will be held in East Barnet following a councillor’s resignation.

The ballot will take place after Labour’s Jo Cooper stepped down as East Barnet ward councillor, and will be held on Thursday 6th May, the same day as the Mayor of London and London Assembly elections.

Cllr Cooper, whose resignation came after three years in office, said she wanted to concentrate on her work commitments in the NHS and thanked all those who supported her during her time as a councillor.

A by-election that was postponed because of Covid-19 restrictions will also be held to fill a vacancy in the Edgware ward on the same date, following the death of long-time Conservative councillor Brian Gordon last autumn.

Nominations for candidates for the East Barnet and Edgware by-elections will be open from Tuesday 30th March. A list of candidates standing in each election will be available on Friday 9th April.

Local elections were postponed following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, amid concerns over its impact on campaigning and voting. But with restrictions gradually being lifted, the government has allowed elections to recommence from May.

The government has set out a series of measures designed to ensure voting can take place in a “Covid secure” way at polling stations. People can still apply to vote by post and by proxy if they prefer.

More information about the upcoming elections and the different methods available to vote, including registering for a postal vote, is available at barnet.gov.uk/elections