THE newly-appointed deputy mayor of Carlisle has spoken of his delight at being chosen to hold the ceremonial position.

The new mayor and deputy mayor of Carlisle were voted in at a meeting on May 11.

Cumberland Council member Abdul Harid, who represents the Belle Vue ward, was appointed by the charter trustees of the city of Carlisle, made up of 12 Cumberland councillors.

Cllr Chris Southward, who represents the Denton Holme ward, was voted in as the deputy mayor of Carlisle.

A formal 'mayor-making' ceremony will be held later this year.

Speaking on the position, Cllr Southward said: “I’m very pleased, I’ve lived in Carlisle my whole life, and have been a councillor on and off from the age of 35, and now I’m 68.

“The role is very different now, they’re almost entirely ceremonial now, and the city council doesn’t exist.

"But if we didn’t do this, the government would stop allowing Carlisle to call itself a city.

“I’ve worked for Cumbria County Council and Carlisle City Council and now Cumberland... I’m in that rare position of having been on all three executive committees.”

However, the appointment has been criticised by the independent council member for Botcherby, Robert Betton, who claimed the process 'wasn’t democratic', and that the mayor should be politically independent.

He said: “I’ve put myself forward to be mayor four times now, with this being the fourth.

“I was proposed and seconded but it was totally voted down.

“The meeting is not supposed to be political but I was voted down by all of Labour, but there were three people who supported me.

“I proceeded to say I didn’t agree with it, and asked when was the last time this city had an independent mayor.”

He said the post should be held by someone who is not a member of a political party, as the role is intrinsically apolitical and ceremonial.

“The point I was making at the meeting was that I was put forward, I was turned down, and I said ‘what about an independent mayor?’

“I don't think this is fair,” he added.

Cllr Betton said he feels 'unheard' at the council, which is majority Labour, and claimed the council has a 'boy’s club mentality' where independent views are ignored.

But Cllr Southward said: “The role is ambassadorial. We’ve had an independent mayor before, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

“The trustees are almost apolitical, and Abdul Harid will represent Carlisle well, we pick them regardless of politics.

“(Cllr Betton) thinks that because he’s independent, he has to be a mayor, but if his attitude continues it will be a long time before we see an independent mayor, he should know his place.”

Cllr Harid was contacted for a statement.