ANGRY Labour councillors snubbed traditional drinks for the city’s new mayor after a spat over his selection.

Former soldier, railwayman and city political veteran Mike Layland, who represents Nunnery ward as an independent, was elected by majority on Tuesday night.

He is believed to be the city’s first independent mayor since the 1830s. He was previously mayor for Labour in 1981/82.

But Labour group leader Adrian Gregson said Coun Layland’s elevation to mayor was “a favour” to the council’s two independent members from the ruling Conservative party group for “propping up” its administration.

The Conservatives have 17 councillors, with other groups totalling 18 members. A Labour proposal, supported by the Liberal Democrats, for party member Coun Marc Bayliss to take the chains of office was voted down.

And none of the 13 Labour members sitting on the council went to the mayor’s parlour after the meeting, where traditionally councillors set politics aside for drinks and nibbles. The other parties did attend, including the Liberal Democrats, who had voted against Coun Layland’s election.

“Going for a hospitable drink even though we voted against our host is acceptable, I think, and I wished Mike a good year,” said Coun Susan Askin (Liberal Democrat).

Labour’s “boycott” was criticised by leading Tories, cabinet member Francis Lankester and group leader Simon Geraghty.

But Coun Gregson said each party member had made his or her own choice about going to the parlour afterwards, adding his party had “concerns” about the choice of mayor this year.

He said: “The only reason Mike Layland is mayor is because he “propped up” – the words of Simon Geraghty in the local press – the Conservative administration. If councillors don’t believe that is the right basis on which to elect a mayor they are not going to partake of free drinks on the mayor allowance.

“The way democracy works is people should get what they vote for.

“And they need to know that if they vote for an independent in Nunnery ward they are actually voting Conservative.”

He accused the Conservatives of paying lip-service to non-partisan elections of the mayor, a position which is traditionally non-political.

Coun Layland responded to Labour councillors during the meeting saying: “I am independent.

“The majority of the council (Conservatives) are sitting to my left and it’s status quo until decided at another election.”

Roger Knight, Conservative group deputy leader, said: “Nominating Coun Layland is about recognising 40 years’ public service and his role as an honourable councillor, true to the people who elected him.

“And as far as a Labour boycott of the parlour afterwards, it was petty behaviour.”

Coun Andy Roberts, the outgoing mayor, said: “It’s a shame to politicise the mayoral position.”

The election of mayor takes place at the council’s first full meeting of each new municipal year.

Keith Burton, Conservative for St Stephen, was elected deputy mayor and Coun Geraghty remains council leader.