Newly-elected Orpington MP Gareth Bacon will temporarily hold three different government positions, as he prepares to transition from local authorities to the halls of Westminster.

Following the Conservative Party’s wipe-out victory in December’s general election, Cllr Bacon will temporarily fulfil the role of MP alongside his positions on Bexley Council and the Greater London Assembly.

Cllr Bacon said he was currently in the process of organising a by-election date for his Bexley Council post, while he would step down from his London Assembly role ahead of elections, due to be held on May 7.

Of the latter position, Cllr Bacon said his resignation wouldn’t trigger a by-election anyway, due to its proximity (within six months) of the scheduled assembly election.

He added there were “important” assembly items he wanted to be present to vote on, including the Mayor’s Budget and the London Plan – both of which could impact his constituents in Orpington, he said.

“If I resign now, it just means there’d be one less Conservative vote,” he said.

In the meantime, Cllr Bacon said he had resigned as leader of the Conservatives within the assembly, as well as chair of the budget and performance committee.

His Greater London Authority salary of £56,270 will also be reduced by two thirds until he steps down – standard practice for members of the authority elected to Parliament.

He said he was in discussions with Bexley Council and the area’s Conservative Party branch as to when he would resign as a councillor for Longlands Ward.

He indicated he would aim for a council by-election to be held ahead of the May London Assembly election.

“Sooner rather than later is my preference…the latest time would be May (coinciding with the London Assembly election) but I think it’ll be held sooner than that,” he said.

Leader of Bexley Council, Teresa O’Neill, thanked Cllr Bacon for his service, and said any decision to resign was his alone.

“Obviously we’re delighted that Gareth has been elected as the Member of Parliament for Orpington and wish him all the best for the future,” Cllr O’Neill said.

“Councillor Bacon was elected by the residents of Longlands Ward in May 2018 to serve a four year term so it will be for him to decide whether he resigns. Only a resignation (or non-attendance) would trigger a by-election.

“Gareth has been a Councillor in Bexley since May 1998 so a long standing Member and has held senior positions during that time.

“As I said above, we wish him all the best for the future.”

Cllr Bacon said he had “fond memories” of his time both on the council and the assembly.

He said Bexley Council was “full of great people – councillors and officers”, and that he would be sad to go.

He also added that he “wouldn’t be in Parliament” if not for his time with the London Assembly.

Cllr Bacon successfully ran for the Conservatives in place of Jo Johnson, who stood down after citing “unresolvable tension” arising from conflicting views with his brother, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, over Brexit.

Orpington, a long-term Tory stronghold, saw the Conservatives secure 63.4 per cent of the total vote, a 0.5 per cent increase from the 2017 election.

Labour’s Simon Jeal, a current Bromley councillor, secured 17.5 per cent of the vote – a drop of 6.9 per cent.

Liberal Democrat candidate Allan Tweddle saw an 8.9 per cent swing, as part of his 15.5 per cent share.