Lib Dems oppose another Labour mayor for Greenwich

6.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 18th May 2005

Liberal Democrat councillors in Greenwich have taken the unusual step of voting against the election of the new mayor for the borough.

Cllr Brian Woodcraft, leader of the Lib Dem group, said "For nearly 35 years, Labour have appointed a mayor from within their own group. Sometimes they have been so short of candidates that some councillors have done the job twice in quick succession.

"The opposition groups make up a quarter of the council, yet Labour have continually refused to consider any long-serving opposition councillors for the role of mayor.

"The role of mayor is supposed to be apolitical, but by refusing point-blank to choose a candidate from outside the Labour group, and this year by appointing a councillor who has only served the borough for three years, Labour are clearly playing party politics with the mayoralty.

"Therefore we are left with no alternative but to vote against the new mayor."