The inauguration of Brighton and Hove’s new mayor caused a sensation on social media and prompted online questions about the ceremonial robes of office.
Both the mayor, Councillor Mohammed Asaduzzaman, and the new deputy mayor, Councillor Amanda Grimshaw, wear the striking red robes at formal events such as the “annual council” meeting last Thursday (16 May).
Brighton and Hove City Council bought three sets of robes more than a decade ago which vary in size and length to cater for mayors of all shapes and sizes.
The council said: “There have been occasions when minor alterations are needed but usually one of the robes will be suitable for an incoming mayor.
“Robes are worn only at civic events, such as citizenship ceremonies, remembrance services, graduations and full council meetings, and are well kept by the civic office.”
While Brighton and Hove retains its ceremonial dress, nearby Worthing Borough Council scrapped its mayoral robes in July last year.
There were suggestions that their formality deterred some people from engaging with local democracy – and some critics were unhappy that the historic robes were trimmed with fur.
There have been calls to restore the robes, with the relatively new Labour administration there promising to keep the matter under review.
The opposition Conservatives brought a motion on the subject at an extraordinary council meeting last night (Tuesday 21 May). The robes are to be brought back into use once the fur trim has been removed.
My god, do people have nothing better to do than complain about this rubbish? Wasted 2 minutes reading this pointless article
I agree with James Mills. Some people are born to live their lives as complainers. Get a bloody life As for Mohammed Azharduzzaman I am a resident rep for Hollingdean which is Councillor Azharduzzamans constituency and let me tell you that since being voted in as our local councillor he has worked hard to make Hollingdean a better place for Residents. He is a really nice guy and I can’t think of anyone who deserves to be mayor more than him.
Hollingdean is lucky to have 3 councillors who work hard for their residents including Mohammed .
That’s more than you can say about some councillors I,ve met over the years. It’s not a political thing but a case of someone who really cares about Residents.
All I can say is before all you professional complainers criticize the man gets to know him. Ian Beck
Home come this bloke who’s been a councillor for 5 minutes gets to be mayor?
It’s traditionally an honour bestowed on a long serving councillor.
Traditionally councils were full of affluent, retired or semi retired people that had time and money to attend all of the civic events required of the mayor. Now councils are younger with people from a wider range of backgrounds and many who work and/or have families.
The reality is that many elected councillors simply don’t want to be mayor as it is a too big a committment. Not to mention the fact that being mayor largely takes you out of having an active role in any other area of the council.
Most of our current councillors were elected less than two years ago and only a small number could be classed as long-serving. It’s also rare, for example, for someone to serve a second term as mayor although it has occasionally happened. And not everyone wants to be mayor. Councillor Asaduzzaman has already served as deputy mayor for a year and was the choice of our elected councillors, with support from across the political spectrum.
That’s not all though is it? It took just 20 days after being elected for him to become a deputy mayor.
Says a lot that the Tories on Worthing Council called a special council meeting to discuss Mayoral Robes when there are so many other Local Government issues to discuss.
BTW B&H news there is no need to put annual council meeting in inverted commas like you’ve done a lot recently.
No surprise from the tories that elected a literal fascist to the council – Conservative Councillor Tim Wills of the Marine Ward in Worthing, a member and advocate of far right group Patriotic Alternative (PA).
The new mayor claims he has a political science degree as someone who eats often at his restaurant truly doubt this can be true. Could any investigation and reassure be given that this isn’t a self-indulgent lie?
*Reassurance you mean?
So what you are basically saying is that because someone runs a successful, long standing restaurant, they can’t also have an academic qualification in politics as well?
I hope you’ve got a good lawyer – you appear to be libelling our new mayor!
Jesus wept. My taxes my questions to ppl in public office. Easy show the qualification? True, politicians aren’t known for telling a porky! Or two.
Does it matter, I have worked with our local councillors (regardless of which political party they belong to) as a Resident Rep for the residents of Hollingdean which is Mohammed’s constituancy.
Let me tell you he has worked hard for his constituents and he cares about them . I have found him to be open and honest. How many politicians can you say that about
I think there are more questions to be asked about the man wearing them and how he got to be made Mayor after only one year as a Councillor.
For the third or fourth time Barry, this has already been answered.
Yeah, right.
When the first ever Labour Council in Worthing was elected, their first act was to abolish the ceremonial robes. Now it makes no difference to me. Wear the robes, don’t wear the robes. It doesn’t really matter. But of all the things they could have done first they do that. Instead of getting people onside by doing something useful they indulge in tiresome political posturing. One member of the Labour group then compounded this foolishness by stating publicly that anyone who supported the retention of the robes was a closet member of the Ku Klux Klan! Just because they happen to wear robes. So do Cistercian monks and the inmates of Hogwarts School. Or are they also rabid racists? Same old Labour. Yawn. Focus on your constituents. Leave the tedious ideology alone. It just irritates the people you claim to represent.