Cornwall Council's depleted ruling cabinet has shrunk further after a second senior Conservative councillor stepped down.
George Trubody, a cabinet support officer and the Tory member for the Rame peninsula, resigned from his post and the authority yesterday.
His departure comes days after Conservative group leader and cabinet member Fiona Ferguson resigned after learning the council was using "lie detector" software to interview residents.
Mr Trubody, a former skipper of a small fishing vessel and ferry boat captain on the Tamar Estuary, has left "to pursue a personal career opportunity which will mean he is unable to fulfil his responsibilities as a council member", a council spokesman said.
"Councillor Trubody has notified the parish councils within his electoral division of his decision and Councillor Pearn will cover his constituency responsibilities pending the unitary elections on 2 May," the spokesman added.
