Calls for inclusion on Plymouth lord mayor role

It traditionally alternates between Conservative and Labour

Calls are being made to extend the gene pool of councillors allowed to become Plymouth’s lord mayor.

The civic, apolitical role has no executive power, but historically alternates each year between the two main parties on the council, Labour and Conservative.

With six independents now on the council, just one fewer than the Conservative contingent, leader of the independent group Cllr Patrick Nicholson (Plympton St Mary) wants the council’s constitution changed so  other parties can have a chance to put other councillors in the ceremonial role.

He told a recent council meeting that it is an authority of “equal opportunities” and “inclusion” and one which had more than two groups on the council – including two Green councillors.

He said the independents, some of whom are former Conservatives, had 84 years of combined service, compared with the current Tory total of 38.

“It can’t be right to discriminate people from being the city’s first citizen because they do not have a badge of Conservative or Labour,” he said. “We need to recognise all service on this council. It’s about fairness.

“The constitution is silent on this, but it has been an informal rule since world war two that the lord mayor alternates between Conservative or Labour.”

On Plymouth City Council’s website also says that each year the two parties take in turns to hold the position.

The council’s audit and governance committee has agreed to put the issue on the work programme after members acknowledged there may well be changes to the constitution over the next 12 months because of local government reorganisation.

Cllr Tina Tuohy (Lab, Ham) is the current lord mayor until May 16 when Cllr Kathy Watkins (Con, Plymstock Radford) will take over. Cllr Watkin was recommended for the role by the lord mayor’s selection committee and this was agreed by the full council.

Former solicitor Cllr Watkin has served on various committees and was the vice chair for the planning committee in 2022 to 2023 and is the current vice-chair for the health and wellbeing board and the health and adult social care scrutiny panel. In 2023 she was elected as deputy lord mayor.

The lord mayor hosts civic events and in their ceremonial role supports the community and promotes the interest of the council and the city. They also chair city council meetings.