Councillors Jason and Nathan Hannay explain their resignations and why one will remain a councillor

Councillors Jason and Nathan Hannay, who announced their resignation from Honiton Town Council after another controversial and highly charged meeting of the council this week, have spoken to Nub News about what's happening at the council and their plans for the future.

Honiton town councillors, and brothers, Jason and Nathan Hannay both announced their resignations at the most recent meeting of Honiton Town Council.

In statements released to Nub News today Jason has explained why he has taken the decision to retract his offer of resignation and Nathan has explained his reasons for leaving.

"I have retracted my statement of resignation," Jason Hannay told Nub News. "On my 'heat of the moment' resignation, I was annoyed at councillor McNally's statement belittling co-opted members. How they could not be bothered to put themselves forward and councillor Taylor's lack of respect towards most people to do with HTC and the town he serves.

"My brother resigned and the only councillor to acknowledge the loss of this was councillor Sheridan-Shaw. It just appeared to be a regular occurrence for our chair.

"Then when councillor Sheridan-Shaw was sharing his thoughts about how he was subjected to homophobic abuse, councillor Carrigan and councillor Taylor were heard laughing and sniggering. This is a small example of many! I resigned and at the end of the meeting said I will stand for re-election.

"I was going to hold true to my decision until yesterday when phone calls, messages, social media comments and emails were flying in all day, asking me not too. The response from the town was amazing, overwhelming, and this is the reason I have chosen to retract my statement.

"Unfortunately my brother is too busy with home life at the moment, I really do hope we get someone of the same calibre to serve this town."

Jason's brother Nathan made this statement to Nub News: "Firstly I would like to send my thoughts to councillor Howard and her family. I've heard so many great things about councillor Howard and the amazing work she has done for our town.

"I have have taken the decision to resign from the council due to work/life balance. It was becoming a difficult decision to make as I feel I have a lot to offer the community I love.

"The decision was made easier to make however by my dissatisfaction with the way some members of the council conduct themselves.

"I found it very disheartening to see how easily some councillors can belittle the public of Honiton who they are supposed to represent and also the way some councillors treat HTC staff!

"I am also tired of our Mayor saying 'this council' decided to continue spending more of the town's money on legal fees.

"I want to say now that I do NOT want to be associated with these costs. Myself and many good councillors have voted against continued spending, unfortunately it's the majority and the decisive vote that counts.

"I wish the Honiton councillors that want to represent their community, not national guidelines and personal gains, all the best and hope they can make a difference for the future of our children and create a great place for us to grown old. I will support them in any way I can when I have the time."

A report on the latest meeting of Honiton Town Council can be found here.

Nub News' exclusive story on Honiton Town Council's 'staggering' legal fees can be found here.

If you would like to watch a live recording of the last meeting of Honiton Town Council click here.

If any other Honiton Town councillors would like to make a statement after this week's meeting, please email [email protected].