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Cross-dressing councillor steps down

Tom Rowley
27/12/2006

SIMMONDLEY councillor Peter Urquhart - who shocked constituents when he started dressing as a woman and calling himself 'Karen' - has quit politics.

Mr Urquhart, a father of three who was first elected in May 2003, is believed to have resigned for health reasons, although he could not be contacted on the phone numbers he had made available to constituents and the press.

Ray Hoerty, a friend of Mr Urquhart who, like the 61-year-old Lib Dem councillor, acted as a volunteer guide to the wartime battlefields across the Channel, said: "In the last couple of years he had gone through a rough period after the death of his mother. It had an adverse effect on his health.

"The news that broke about 18 months ago about his dressing as 'Karen' had a devastating effect on his family, which obviously did not help."

Mr Hoerty believes that Mr Urquhart is now living in the Hadfield area.

A High Peak Council spokeswoman said: "Councillor Urquhart handed in his resignation on 18 November. Because his resignation falls within six months of the 2007 borough elections, there will not be a by-election for his ward."