A MALVERN councillor will serve on councils in two different counties if elected on Thursday.

Jennie Watkins, the ex-deputy leader of Gloucester City Council and current chief of staff for MP Richard Graham, will serve on councils in two different counties if elected on Thursday.

The former Podsmead councillor, who lives in Eldersfield, on the edge of Gloucestershire but in Worcestershire, was elected to represent the Longdon ward on Malvern Hills District Council last year.

Mrs Watkins, who has worked for Mr Graham for 14 years, is this year also standing to represent the people of Grange ward on Gloucester City Council.

Despite living some 11 miles from Gloucester, she is eligible to stand in this Thursday’s (May 2) elections because she is employed in the city.

If elected, the Conservative candidate says she will serve as a “twin-hatter” until she moves back to the city and is no longer eligible to stand for re-election in Malvern district.

“I’m eligible to stand where I work and where I live,” she said.

“I won’t be the first twin-hatter but do understand it looks fairly unusual to be covering two geographical areas. I think that’s a good challenge for me and one I will do well if I get elected.

“Initially, I will be a twin-hatter. I live just on the Gloucestershire border and work full time in Gloucester.

“But in the longer term, yes, I’ll be moving back to the city at some time in the future but obviously I continue to work full time there.

“If I move at the next election, I would not be eligible to stand [in Malvern].

“But I will serve my community for the term in which I’m elected. Lots of people cover large geographical areas across two councils

“I feel perfectly capable of being able to do so. Lets not forget I was representing Gloucester when I lived in Wales during the pandemic when we got the extra year.

“I’m fully capable of having my finger on the pulse.”

The full list of candidates standing in the Grange ward is below.

Grange candidates
Bell, Andrew – Independent
Cozens, Simon Phillip – Labour Party
Davis, Gary John – Labour Party
Evans, Sylvia – Conservative Party
Minchin, Karen – Liberal Democrat
Moffatt, Kira – Liberal Democrat
Watkins, Jennie – Conservative Party