Bognor's mayor is Conservative for first time in two decades

A Conservative mayor has been chosen to represent Bognor Regis for the first time in almost 20 years, prompting a political storm.

Eileen Anderson was chosen as the civic figurehead by a casting vote at Monday's annual meeting of the town council.

Since 1990, the position has always been filled by a Liberal Democrat with the exception of three years with a Labour mayor.

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The Conservatives' night at the annual meeting was complete when Sandra Daniells was chosen as the deputy mayor.

But a cry of 'what a disgrace' greeted her election with former mayor Francis Oppler barracking her while she put on her chain of office. He was joined in his vocal opposition by one-time town councillor Ian Harding.

Mr Oppler followed this by telling Cllr Anderson: "To allow your name to go forward like this is dishonourable on this council and reflects very poorly upon you."

The comments from the public gallery followed the knife-edge vote which led to Cllr Anderson being chosen.

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She was selected only on the casting vote of the outgoing mayor Cllr Jennifer Gillibrand, who was voted in while she was a Lib Dem but then changed parties to become a Tory.

The decision was required after councillors tied 8-8 in choosing between Cllr Anderson and outgoing Liberal Democrat deputy town mayor Jeanette Warr.

The last Tory to be voted into the senior role was the late Tom Boothman's, whose lengthy time as mayor ended in November 1990.

In father's footsteps

Cllr Mrs Anderson is following in the footsteps of her father Alfred Anderson, who was the chairman of the former Bognor Regis Urban District Council in 1968.

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She worked at the town hall as a secretary in the UDC's treasurer's department for five years from the age of 16.

"I never thought about becoming mayor at the time," she said. "I hope to be as good an ambassador for the town as my father was."

Cllr Anderson, 66, of Wessex Avenue, was elected to the town council in Marine ward two years ago. "I want to use my time as mayor to try to get more activities for young people and the visitors who are coming to the town," she said.

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