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Jeers from public gallery after row over new mayor

Lucy AshtonSouth Yorkshire political reporter
News imageBBC/Lucy Ashton A man with a partially shaved head and glasses is wearing a bright red and black robe, with a white frill and large gold chain. He is sitting next to a man with brown hair and a brown beard in a navy blue suit with white shirt and navy tie. They are sitting at a large wooden desk in a council chamberBBC/Lucy Ashton
The new Mayor of Barnsley Liam Hardcastle with new deputy mayor Michael Davies

There were tears, boos and catcalls at a Barnsley Council meeting after Reform UK councillors broke with tradition and vetoed the new mayor.

Reform blocked Labour from taking the position to cries of "shame" from people in the public gallery.

Labour councillor Jo Newing was due to step into the role, having spent the past year as deputy mayor, but Reform rejected her appointment and instead voted in their own councillor Liam Hardcastle.

Newing could be seen wiping her eyes after returning to the backbenches while one member of the public was escorted out after shouting from the gallery.

News imageBBC/Lucy Ashton A man with a bald head is wearing a bright red and black robe, with a white frill and large gold chain. He is sitting next to a woman with short grey hair and glasses wearing a pale pink blazer and grey striped shirt. They are sitting at a large wooden desk in a council chamberBBC/Lucy Ashton
Labour councillor Jo Newing was expecting to replace outgoing Mayor David Leech

Mayors are non-political civic figureheads who chair meetings of the full council and have the casting vote if councillors cannot agree.

By tradition, the mayor is normally a longstanding councillor who serves as deputy mayor the year before.

Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats were critical of Reform, although Reform has not broken any rules by placing their own councillor in the role.

On becoming mayor, Hardcastle said: "I am truly honoured and humbled to be chosen as civic mayor of Barnsley.

"I would like to thank my colleagues. Your support, confidence and kind words mean a great deal to me.

"This is a responsibility that I accept with pride and I look forward to serving the people of Barnsley with dedication and respect.

"Barnsley is a borough built on strong communities, kindness and resilience."

News imageBBC/Lucy Ashton A row of men in navy suits are sitting at wooden desks in a council chamberBBC/Lucy Ashton
Barnsley's new council leader is William Brown (front, top left)

Reform now has 42 of the authority's 63 councillors.

At the same meeting, William Brown also formally became the new council leader but chose not to give a speech.

He simply said: "I'm honoured that the people of Barnsley have used democracy, putting their voice forward for me to deliver, and that's what I'll be doing."

Sir Stephen Houghton, who bows out after spending 30 years as council leader, has also stepped down from being Labour leader and is replaced by James Higginbottom.

The new Lib Dem leader is David Greenhough, who replaces former councillor Hannah Kitching.

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