Liam Calvert, who has sat on Norwich City Council since May 2023, announced he was standing down ahead of the May elections, ending a tenure overshadowed by scandal and internal party turmoil. 

Mr Calvert was suspended from the Green group last summer after a tenant accused him of ignoring "countless" complaints about black mould and dampness at one of his properties.

Liam Calvert with a mould problem found inside social housing (Image: Green Party)

The tennant recreated an image of Mr Calvert on a leaflet showcasing social home mould (Image: Morrighan Humpleby)

The allegations saw Mr Calvert labelled a "hypocrite", because he had long positioned himself as a champion of social housing tenants and an outspoken critic of negligent landlords.

He was readmitted to the group in October, despite 10 of his 16 Green colleagues voting to expel him. 

Mr Calvert was also entitled to vote in the decision, although it is now known whether he was one of the four to vote for his readmission.

Under Green Party rules, a two thirds majority is need to expel members, meaning Mr Calvert escaped banishment by one vote.

Liam Calvert has represented the Wensum ward since 2023 (Image: Supplied)

His return to the party came at a turbulent time for the Greens at City Hall.

A separate scandal, dubbed "Nazigate", saw fellow Green councillor Charlie Caine accused of shouting "Nazis" at women holding a silent vigil for Afghan women in Norwich city centre.

The Greens decided to take no action over the incident after it emerged the councillor - despite being elected for the party - was not actually a member.

Alex Catt, who was the leader of the Greens during the debacle, was scheduled to go before a disciplinary hearing earlier this year after he accused Labour councillors of "fuelling a transphobic campaign" over that scandal.

The hearing was delayed however, and Mr Catt has announced he will not be standing at the next election.

Alex Catt stood down as leader of the Green group at Norwich City Hall last year (Image: Alex Catt)

He had already stepped down from his position as leader of the Greens due to "work commitments" shortly after Mr Calvert returned to the party.

Mr Calvert said: "I, like very many others in our community, struggle with the ongoing effects of Long Covid on my mental and physical wellbeing. 

“I have been grateful for the opportunity to work hard for the residents of Wensum ward and trust they will elect further hard-working councillors to represent the area."

His seat will now be contested at the ballot box in May rather than through a by-election, taking the number of Norwich City Council seats up for grabs from 13 to 14 of the authority's 39 positions.

The elections had originally been postponed before the government U-turned in the face of a legal challenge from Reform UK.

They will be held on May 7.

Green group leader Lucy Galvin said: "We'd like to take this opportunity to thank councillor Calvert for his hard work and dedication over the years and his service to residents in Wensum ward."

© Norwich Evening News