A CIVIC banquet laid on by Worcester’s new mayor has been snubbed by nearly every Labour councillor.

There will be empty seats when Councillor Mike Layland and his guests tuck into a three-course meal of smoked salmon, roast beef, and lemon tart at the Guildhall on Friday night as a row over his appointment simmers on.

It comes a month after Worcester’s Labour city councillors spurned drinks in the mayor’s parlour.

The opposition is angry with Coun Layland’s voting patterns, which they say show he helps the Conservatives. Of the 13 Labour councillors sitting on the 35-seat council only Coun Marc Bayliss is going to the £3,500 banquet – the annual civic ceremony which welcomes the mayor to office. Just one of the three Liberal Democrat councillors is attending.

Fifteen councillors have made their excuses – however all but one of the ruling Conservative group will attend, as will Coun Layland’s sister-in-law the independent councillor Margaret Layland.

Ironically, the only Labour councillor going to the event tomorrow is Coun Bayliss, the man put up against Coun Layland for mayor in May.

“I didn’t know I was the only Labour councillor going this year,” he said. “I hold no grudges. Part of a councillor’s job is to help the mayor highlight the city’s role.”

Coun Adrian Gregson, Labour group leader, said: “I’ve got a domestic engagement. People make their own decision about whether they’re going but there’s no party whip.”

Coun Paul Denham questioned the use of taxpayer’s money to fund the occasion. Liberal Democrat councillor Sue Askin said she and her husband Ken Carpenter had a pre-booked holiday.

Coun Simon Geraghty, Conservative group leader, said it was “disappointing” some councillors were not attending.

The former mayor and Conservative councillor Andy Roberts said “pretty much all” Labour councillors had attended his banquet last year arguing it was more about celebrating other local volunteers’ and workers’ achievements than just another council chinwag. The mayor draws up the guest list of people selected from all walks of life working in charity, the voluntary sector and business.

On Friday, representatives from Perdiswell Young People’s Leisure Centre, the local cadet forces, Acorns Children’s Hospice and Worcestershire Royal Hospital will be among the guests.

A Worcester City Council spokesman said the mayor’s budget had been cut, including the loss of the mayor’s car and officer, while with the help of networking events the mayor raised more than £13,500 for his chosen charities last year.

Coun Layland – a former Labour councillor but now independent member for Nunnery Ward – was unavailable for comment.