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# letter from america
An English councillor says he can do his job from the USA
Telecommuting is all the rage, sure.
A TORY COUNCILLOR in England has refused to stand down from his job, despite moving 4,000 miles from his constituency.
Brian Riley, the Conservative councillor for Hadleigh North in Suffolk is moving to North Carolina next month, but will retain his seat on the council.
Council rules state that Riley only has to attend one meeting every six months and he has told colleagues he will fly home every seven weeks. He added that he will be able to keep in touch by Skype and email.
“We are in the 21st century with e-mails and Skype and there are plenty of ways of keeping in touch with people in Hadleigh. It isn’t a case of gathering around the parish pump any more.”
His local branch of the Conservative Party has summoned him to a meeting to defend his decision, the East Anglia Daily Times reports, but they cannot compel him to resign.
Mark Bee, leader of the council, said Riley’s plan “beggars belief”.
As a councillor, he will keep his £10,000 a year allowance.
When in the states, he plans to work on the election campaign of Hillary Clinton.
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