THE depute leader of East Lothian Council has announced he is leaving local politics... to become a church minister.

Councillor Michael Veitch, leader of the Conservative group on the local authority, has confirmed he will not be standing for re-election to East Lothian Council in May.

The Dunbar father-of-two plans instead to move, along with his family, to Northumberland to become a minister next spring, having embarked upon part-time theological training last year.

The Dunbar and East Linton councillor told the Courier: “It has been, and remains, a huge honour to represent my home community on East Lothian Council since May 2012.

“During that time, I have sought to work tirelessly on behalf of the many communities across the ward and can honestly say that I have enjoyed every minute.

“It has been a joy and pleasure to work with so many individuals and groups who are involved in the life of our community, and to play a part in the active civic life which characterises this special part of East Lothian.

“Between now and the end of my term of office next spring, I look forward to continuing to represent my constituents and working hard on their behalf.

“There is still much I wish to achieve for the community in the months ahead.”

Mr Veitch – whose previous jobs before becoming a councillor included sales executive with Cadbury, a researcher at the Scottish Parliament, and researcher and lobbyist for a charity – was elected in 2012 with 21 per cent of the first preference votes. He plans to move south in the spring but has vowed to remain as a councillor up until the election.

Mr Veitch, who is a member of Dunbar Parish Church, has been in training to be a minister and will continue that training while minister at Wooler Evangelical Church.

The local Conservatives are planning to announce their candidates for the East Lothian elections “relatively soon”.

Elected alongside Mr Veitch in the ward in 2012 were Labour’s Norman Hampshire and Paul McLennan, of the SNP, with both men wishing their colleague well for the future.

Mr Hampshire said: “Obviously, Michael has been part of the administration of the council and we have worked together to do things well in Dunbar.

“It has been a difficult few years because of the financial situation but we have been able to achieve a lot within the Dunbar area together and I feel it is sad that he is leaving the council; I hope he gets on well in his new career path.”

His ward colleague Mr McLennan felt Dunbar would miss Mr Veitch and added: “I’ve had nothing but good relations with Michael and wish him all the best.

“It was a big decision for him and his family.”

Community councils were similarly full of praise for Mr Veitch’s efforts over the last four and a half years.

Allison Cosgrove, vice-chairwoman of Dunpender Community Council, which covers East Linton and the surrounding area, said: “He has been extremely helpful to us, particularly regards RAGES (Rail Action Group East of Scotland), of course, but also with lots of other issues. He has been very good at following up things we have asked him to do.”

Peter Armstrong, vice-chairman of East Lammermuir Community Council, which covers villages such as Innerwick, Stenton and Spott, said Mr Veitch would be “a much-missed councillor” and thanked him for turning up at the group’s meetings, even “on a winter’s evening in Oldhamstocks”.

He added: “We have got to know him very well and he has been an excellent councillor and very helpful.

“He attended lots of our meetings and is there to give advice; we are sorry to hear he is moving on.”