TWO senior York Labour councillors are stepping down next year, it has been confirmed.

Dafydd Williams and Neil Barnes, who represent Heworth and Hull Road respectively, will not stand in city council elections due next May.

Both will have served for two four-year terms, and Cllr Williams was council leader for six months in 2014 and 2015.

He said he was stepping down due to the pressure of a full-time job and family life on top of council commitments. Cllr Barnes, who has served as group whip and finance spokesman, said his council work had been an “absolute honour” and life-changing, but that with a full-time career he was looking for work-life balance.

He said he was particularly proud of his work on shared housing laws and council tax support. Labour leader Janet Looker praised Cllr Barnes’ objectivity, fairness and commitment.