A Labour councillor could become the youngest mayor of Brighton and Hove next year – and the youngest deputy mayor in the meantime.
His party has nominated 26-year-old Tobias Sheard, known as TJ, to become the new deputy mayor this week.
A formal vote is due to take place at Brighton and Hove City Council’s annual council meeting at Brighton Town Hall on Thursday (21 May).
But given Labour’s majority on the council, there is unlikely to be any obstacle to his appointment.
At the same meeting another Labour councillor, Theresa Fowler, is expected to become the new mayor of Brighton and Hove.
She is due to take over from Councillor Amanda Grimshaw who has held the post since the start of the current municipal year last May.
The role – as first citizen of Brighton and Hove – is politically neutral and largely ceremonial although it involves chairing meetings of the full council. If needed, the mayor has the casting vote.
Unlike the executive mayors of London, Birmingham and Manchester, the post does not include taking policy decisions – a role carried out by the council’s leader and cabinet in Brighton and Hove.
But in May 2028, voters are scheduled to choose the first directly elected mayor of Sussex, with a shake up of local government also on the way.
Brighton and Hove Labour said that Councillor Sheard could become not only the youngest deputy mayor in Brighton and Hove’s modern history but possibly its first openly gay deputy mayor.
The party said: “His nomination reflects Brighton and Hove Labour’s commitment to diversity and support for a new generation of civic leadership that represents the city’s dynamism and future.
“Since being elected in 2023, Councillor Sheard has quickly built up experience across the council. He has served as deputy chair of both the Planning Committee and the Licensing Committee.
“And this year he chaired a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, helping to oversee key issues affecting residents across the city.
“Councillor Sheard’s nomination would also mark an important moment for LGBT+ representation in civic life in Brighton and Hove.
“As a young gay councillor, his appointment would send a strong message about the kind of city Brighton and Hove is: open, inclusive and proud of its diversity.
“When Councillor Sheard moves on to his mayoral year, we believe he will be the first out gay mayor in Brighton and Hove’s history.”
Councillor Sheard said: “It is a real honour to be nominated by Brighton and Hove Labour for deputy mayor.
“I love this city and everything it stands for: creativity, diversity, community and the belief that everyone should have the chance to thrive.
“To be able to serve Brighton and Hove in this role would be a huge privilege. I hope it shows young people across our city, and LGBT+ young people in particular, that there is a place for them in public life and that their city belongs to them too.”
Councillor Sheard was elected to the council in Coldean and Stanmer ward in May 2023 as Labour won its first local majority for more than 20 years.
The Labour leader of the council, Bella Sankey, said: “Tobias is an excellent choice for the first citizen of Brighton and Hove.
“He is thoughtful, warm, witty, hardworking, principled and deeply committed to the values our city holds dear.
“He is part of a new generation stepping up to public service and his nomination for deputy mayor sends a powerful message about who gets to be seen in civic life. That matters in a city like ours.”
Councillor Sankey added: “Brighton and Hove is at its best when our institutions reflect the people who call this city home. Tobias would bring real warmth, energy and pride to the role.”
In May last year, the council picked Ty Galvin to be deputy mayor. Councillor Galvin, who was 85 at the time, became the oldest mayor-elect since Brighton and Hove merged in the late 1990s.
But in November he was suspended by Labour and resigned as deputy mayor. Since then, he has continued to represent Hanover and Elm Grove but sits as an Independent. He denies any wrongdoing.
I always thought the Mayor in Brighton was a non-political (civic) post, but the current council seem to just be nominating Labour councillors, rather than rotating between parties like they did in the past.
No disrespect meant to this young councillor, but feels like a shame and not quite right if the courtesy of rotating the post between parties has been lost. By Labour only ever nominating people for from their own party for this privileged position it makes it a political appointment by default.
I believe, and correct me if I’m wrong on this, but the mayoralty post would cross party on a regular basis, because we’ve had a hung council for a long time, rather than the majority we enjoy these days?
That’s not true Benjamin – I’ve checked. Prior to the period of no overall control – eg between 1997-2003, despite it being a Labour council there were Mayors from various political parties. Although to be fair, there are news reports which suggest that the Labour council back in 1999 were game playing and trying to oust the Tory mayor (Cllr Jenny Langston). news articles imply they were worried that in a high profile position like mayor she might impact on their Hove MPs re-election odds, (Ivor Caplin!). News reports from the time said “She could also have an unfair advantage over Ivor Caplin (the Hove Labour MP) through all the publicity as deputy mayor in the run-up to the next general election.” Worrying if true that the Labour council back then did try and block someone from an opposition party to advantage one of their own, in the same way I think non-rotating mayors now isn’t a good look.
There was also a Lib Dem Mayor during the 1997-2003 timeframe. So while you are incorrect about the past, it does seem that when Labour did have total control of the council before, there were attempts by them to oust mayoral candidates from other parties back then too. It seems not much has changed since then and the skulduggery and jobs for mates tactics apply today, just as they did 20-30 years ago. What a sad state of affairs and such a shame that shutting out other parties from supposedly non-political civic roles is still a thing.
There is no law or council rule that says the Mayorality should rotate between the various parties on the council.
There would have been behind the scenes discussions with the Tory and Green groups on this and it is possible they both declined. Having one of their councillors as Mayor effectivly reduces the size of their group on the council by one and that affects their ability to sit on committees and ask questions and more importantly vote at council meetings.
One of their members would also have needed to be ready, willing and able to take up the role. It does require a significant time committment and not everyone can make that committment.