Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

The deputy leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council resigned after he visited an amber list country, the council has confirmed.

Councillor Sean Morgan stepped down as deputy leader, as well as from his role as the Cabinet Member for Economy, Enterprise and Infrastructure, on June 9.

It is understood that Cllr Morgan had visited Spain.

A council spokesperson told Caerphilly Observer: “We were recently made aware that Cllr Morgan had travelled to an amber list country and he subsequently tendered his resignation as Cabinet Member and Deputy Leader of the authority.

“The Leader [Cllr Philippa Marsden] accepted his resignation and is currently considering options for these roles in future.”

Before the announcement was made, Cllr Colin Mann, leader of the council’s Plaid Cymru group, had called on the council to be “upfront” about the reasons behind Cllr Morgan’s resignation.

After it was confirmed by the council that Cllr Morgan had travelled to an amber country, Cllr Mann said: “Blatantly ignoring the current restrictions on travel and jetting off to Spain was clearly a resignation issue. The voters of Nelson will clearly reflect on the actions of their local member, Sean Morgan.

“What has also been disappointing is that the Labour group did not come clean at the time of the resignation two weeks ago, particularly as people in Nelson ward were aware of what had happened. The Labour leader Philippa Marsden pledged transparency when she was elected and this issue was clearly one where she and the Labour group failed to meet the transparency test.

“In addition, there has been deafening silence from Councillor Morgan himself. It would have been responsible if he had told his constituents what was going on.”

Caerphilly Observer has contacted Cllr Morgan for comment. We also contacted the council several times since June 9 asking why Cllr Morgan had resigned.

Cllr Morgan will remain as the councillor for the Nelson ward.

It is the second time a senior councillor has had to resign from Caerphilly Council’s cabinet in relation to coronavirus restrictions.

In September last year Labour’s Carl Cuss quit his social services position after pictures emerged of him allegedly not social distancing while in the Czech Republic.

Amber list countries

People travelling to the UK from an amber list country are required to isolate for up to ten days upon arrival.

When it comes to international travel to and from the UK, countries are ranked using a traffic light system. People returning from countries on the green list do not have to isolate upon return, as countries on the green list typically have lower rates of coronavirus and are deemed safer.

Countries on the red list are considered dangerous to travel to and from, due to the high virus rates in those countries.

Travel to countries on the amber list is advised against. People arriving in the UK from those countries are required to isolate for up to ten days.

Countries can change from one category to another based on infection rates.

People are able to travel freely between countries within the Common Travel Area, which includes Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.