Councillor is stepping down

A senior Wolverhampton councillor who has been claiming thousands of pounds in allowances despite attending no meetings in more than two months today announced he would be standing down from his cabinet position.

Tettenhall Regis councillor Jonathan Yardley, who recently hit the headlines after being questioned by police for alleged "homophobic" remarks at a public meeting last year, is quitting the cabinet next month.

The 48-year old claimed his full allowance of £26,941 - including £17,961 for special responsibilities - despite living in Plymouth for several weeks due to medical problems.

He will remain a backbench councillor until at least May 2011.

"I'm not going to be in the cabinet, I've decided to step down and concentrate on my own business," he said.