Labour councillor stuns colleagues by quitting over loss of local powers

A long-serving county councillor’s shock resignation was prompted by power being stripped from local authorities.

Cllr John Mulvihill (Labour), who was a member of Cork County Council for 22 years, resigned his position yesterday with immediate effect.

He said he was disillusioned by repeated promises by successive governments to devolve more powers to local authorities and felt it was time to let a younger person take over from him.