Councillor who beat BNP quits; ELECTION: Politician in successful vote challenge standing down.

Byline: By Neil Elkes

THE Labour politician who ousted Birmingham's only BNP councillor in a courtroom "recount" is to stand down after just two years in her present role.

Catharine Grundy stunned party colleagues by announcing she would not stand for re-election as councillor for Kingstanding on May 1.

The former city education chief hit the headlines in July 2006 when she successfully overturned the election of BNP councillor Sharon Ebanks at the High Court.

Minutes after Ms Ebanks was declared the winner on election night, a miscount of votes was discovered prompting a two-month legal wrangle.

Coun Grundy, a business consultant, says difficulties juggling her job with Edgbaston based AXC Ltd and her council duties have forced her to step aside.

Colleagues today said the news has come out of the blue.

Labour's Kingstanding branch chairman Hugh McCallion said: "Catharine has served the people of Kingstanding, and indeed the city of Birmingham, exceptionally well over the last two years and her decision came as a surprise and a disappointment.

"I have worked closely with Catharine over the last six years during which time I have found her to be a capable, hard-working, well motivated politician."

Coun Grundy had also represented the Brandwood ward between 2002 and 2004, during which time she became Labour cabinet member for education.

She said:" I am finding it increasingly difficult to juggle a busy job and a heavy political workload. It has been a pleasure working for the people of Kingstanding and I would love to go on doing it, especially as we have so many projects up and running. Now that I am up for re-election it's make your mind up time."

The local Labour Party needs to appoint a successor before next Friday.