Barking and Dagenham Council leader Darren Rodwell to step down

Cllr Rodwell was first elected as a councillor in 2010 and has been the leader of the council since May 2014.

He will continue his role as a councillor for Northbury ward.

Cllr Rodwell was due to stand as the Labour candidate for Barking at the general election earlier this month but withdrew his candidacy.

But The Independent reported in early June that Cllr Rodwell had been subject to a Labour Party investigation over a sexual harassment allegation.

In a statement posted on X last week (July 8), Cllr Rodwell claimed Labour had "dismissed" an allegation regarding his conduct.

Labour declined to comment but this paper was told that there was no open investigation regarding Cllr Rodwell.

Cllr Rodwell said he was left feeling “incredibly hurt”, but remained focused on “playing my part” in supporting the new Labour government.

He went on to claim that the timing of the allegation was a “deliberate attempt to besmirch my name” and prevent him from standing as the Labour candidate for Barking.

He wrote: "While I am obviously relieved to put this incident behind me, it has been an incredibly stressful time, which has been particularly upsetting for my family who are still living with the consequences."

At the time of the allegation, Cllr Rodwell said he “utterly refuted” the sexual harassment claim. 

Nesil Caliskan replaced Cllr Rodwell as Labour's candidate to be Barking MP, taking the seat (Image: Olivia Carter)

Cllr Rodwell was replaced as candidate by Enfield Council leader Nesil Caliskan, who went on to win the seat with 16,227 votes.

Ms Caliskan is reportedly standing down as the leader of Enfield Council after winning the Barking seat.

On Monday afternoon (July 15), a statement was posted on Barking and Dagenham Council’s website announcing Cllr Rodwell’s intention to stand down as council leader.

It said: “Cllr Rodwell was elected to the council in 2010 and has served as leader for the past 10 years. During this time the council secured investment and new opportunities which have transformed the borough.

“As well as being responsible for building one in five of London’s affordable homes, it has attracted two brand new film studios, a modern university run by CULondon, the Future Youth Zone in Parsloes Park, London’s only Women’s Museum in Barking, the Thames Clipper Service and a new train station at Barking Riverside.”

It went on to say: “This is alongside building new homes in Barking town centre including the 360 Building, the former Gascoigne estate, and former industrial land including Beam Park, Ford’s former stamping plant, in Dagenham.

“In recent years, the City of London has also agreed a plan to relocate its historic wholesale markets, Smithfield, Billingsgate and New Spitalfields to Dagenham.”

In that time, Cllr Rodwell has also served on London Councils and is the executive member for regeneration, housing and planning.

The council's statement does not give any specific reasoning for the leader's decision to step down.

Cllr Rodwell has been contacted for comment.