Evesham Council Faces Historic No Confidence Vote

A dispute over standards of conduct in local government will come before Evesham Town Council in Worcestershire, England, on Monday, October 12, when councillors consider a motion of no confidence against Emma Nishigaki. The vote follows a petition organized by Wychavon district councillor Craig Reeves, who called for Nishigaki's resignation after complaints about her conduct and social media commentary.

According to the Evesham Observer, the petition presented to the council on September 28 contained 736 signatures. The BBC reported that the campaign attracted support from almost 750 people. The motion is believed to be the first of its kind in the council's 421-year history, which dates to 1605.

The proposed motion follows previous disciplinary action and renewed controversy surrounding Nishigaki's conduct. However, a no confidence vote cannot legally remove an elected councillor from office under current government rules, making the outcome symbolic rather than a direct means of dismissal.

Reeves said he initiated the petition after months of personal allegations and commentary directed at him through Nishigaki's social media accounts. He argued that the dispute raised broader questions about expected standards for elected representatives.

"Enough is enough. This issue is bigger than one individual pursuit - it is time for our town to stand up for better standards of behaviour in public office." Reeves said.

Reeves also said he hoped public attention surrounding the vote could eventually contribute to legislative changes. The petition called for Nishigaki to resign and for the council to debate a formal motion of no confidence.

Nishigaki, who represents the Avon ward, rejects allegations of inappropriate behavior and describes the campaign against her as a witch hunt. She told the BBC that she intended to seek an injunction against Reeves and planned to stand for reelection the following year.

"My fixations with truth and honesty, and openness should be an asset to the council," Nishigaki said.

She also alleged that other councillors had begun targeting and excluding her soon after she was reelected in 2023. Nishigaki maintained that recordings of council meetings supported her account of how she had been treated.

"Right from the second meeting [since I was re-elected in 2023] they [other councillors] decided they were going to start attacking and abusing me, I was marginalised and ostracised." Nishigaki said.

She disputed claims that she had mistreated anyone during council meetings and pointed to publicly streamed proceedings as evidence for her position.

"I have never abused or upset anybody in a council meeting - council meetings are streamed, you can see it's me who is spoken to [badly] in those meetings." Nishigaki said.

The dispute also follows a reported altercation on August 24 involving Nishigaki, the town clerk, another councillor and a member of the public after a council meeting. Nishigaki denied behaving inappropriately in the market square and claimed she had been assaulted, saying CCTV footage would support her account.

"I completely deny any inappropriate behaviour in the market square." Nishigaki said.

She also challenged the allegations as a continuation of earlier accusations that she considered untrue.

"These reports are a resurrection of the previous pattern of untrue accusations about me," Nishigaki said.

Earlier, Nishigaki argued that voters, rather than a symbolic motion, should determine whether she remained in office. She said her four-year term followed her election by the public and that resignation would trigger a by-election, creating additional costs for the council.

"There is no vehicle that provides for a vote of no confidence or to resign. I was elected by the public and that is the only democratic process." Nishigaki said.

She maintained that she had been elected for a four-year term and said she would consider resigning and standing again if Reeves paid for a by-election.

"Should Coun Reeves wish to pay for the by-election I will resign and restand in Nigel Farage style ." Nishigaki said.

She reiterated that the next election would provide the decisive public judgment on her position.

"Only the opinion of the ballot box matters and that is due in may next year." Nishigaki said.

Nishigaki also said she did not want her resignation to impose a financial burden on the council.

"I refuse to place financial burden on the council." Nishigaki said.

The council had previously censured Nishigaki in 2025 after complaints about her behavior. According to the Evesham Observer, an investigation conducted through Wychavon District Council's Code of Conduct process followed complaints from three members of the public and concluded that she had breached the councillor code in several respects. The town council's internal findings described her behavior as unacceptable and inconsistent with the standards expected of members, leading to a public apology.

The October 12 meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. and is open to the public and press. Whatever the outcome, the motion cannot itself remove Nishigaki from her elected position.