A Liberal Democrat protest against the newly selected Mayor in Gateshead has been branded "childish" by Labour councillors.
The Lib Dem opposition says they will refuse to stand in the council chamber for the entry and exit of Mayor and Labour councillor Eileen McMaster.
The opposition claims the Labour Group, over the last 50 years, has made the mayoralty a "political rather than civil honour". The Lib Dems have said their protest will end when Labour commit to joint discussions to agree on a new Mayor each year.
The protest has been branded as "childish" by Labour who deny political bias in the selection of the Mayor. The role of the Mayor is largely ceremonial. The Mayor chairs full council meetings, represents Gateshead at formal events and raises money for charitable causes.
The Mayor is the 'First Citizen' of Gateshead and is considered the highest honour within the council. The Mayor is selected by councillors, of which there are 49 Labour and 17 Lib Dems.
Lib Dem leader of the opposition, Coun Ron Beadle, said: “We have regretfully taken the decision not to stand, in the same way as councillors do not stand when any other Labour member chairs a committee of the council.
“I have written to the new Mayor, Coun Eileen McMaster, to explain that this protest is not directed towards her personally but rather to the Labour group.
“In councils of all colours up and down the country, from Newcastle to Liverpool, from Bromley to Stockton, the Mayoralty is shared between different parties and is often offered to councillors according to seniority.
“But in Gateshead, Labour treat the Mayoralty like a one-party state. Labour believes that any Labour councillor, regardless of the length of time on the council, is more worthy of this honour than any councillor from any other party. It is deeply unfair and after 50 years, it is time the opposition called them out.
“Whether we end our protest is in Labour’s hands. If they make a commitment to meet with the opposition each year to jointly agree the nomination of the Mayor and their deputy, then this issue would be resolved.”
Leader of the council and Deckham councillor Martin Gannon said: "Whether they like it or not, there are more Labour councillors than Liberal Democrats. The constitution of the council is that the council, not the Labour Group, the council chooses.
"That is the legal position. It is not a policy of the council to say it must be a Labour member. That's it, there are no party politics about it.
"I think they are behaving childishly."
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