Wolverhampton has a new mayor. Councillor Paul Singh was elected as the city's 167th first citizen for the 2026/27 municipal year during a full meeting of the City of Wolverhampton Council on Wednesday, May 20.
Conservative councillor Singh, who has represented the Penn ward since 2007, succeeds outgoing mayor Councillor Craig Collingswood. Speaking for the first time as mayor, Cllr Singh described the experience as 'surreal' as he recalled playing in the Civic Centre while it was under construction in the late 1970s, catching a two-pence bus into town to climb scaffolding and run around the building.
'I never imagined I would be here today returning as the mayor,' he said. 'I'm honoured to be the 167th mayor of Wolverhampton and I'm humbled to follow in the footsteps of some great mayors before me.'
Cllr Singh moved to Willenhall from Punjab in the 1970s at the age of eight. He told councillors he was 'proud to have been born in India and made in the Black Country.'
'Wolverhampton gave me a chance and a place to belong,' he said. 'The people of this city are among the best in this country. My hope is to serve this city with pride, dignity and respect.'
Cllr Singh paid tribute to his family, particularly his father, for teaching him to work hard and make something of himself. 'My family being here today means everything to me. I know my dad would be proud of me at this moment,' he added. His wife, Ranjit Dhillon, will serve as mayoress.
The mayor's chosen charities include The Friends of Di's Kitchen, which delivers food to those in need across the city, and Inspire You, which supports young people in finding and developing their talents. Cllr Singh also announced that the motto for his mayoral year would be 'Through Sports We Grow', celebrating the positive impact of sport on his life, and he will raise funds for Wolverhampton Boxing Club and Wolverhampton Judo Club.
Councillor Sohail Khan, who formally nominated his Conservative colleague for the mayoralty, praised Cllr Singh for having the 'resilience, heritage, hard work and the very best of what our city represents today.'
Councillor Wendy Thompson was also elected as deputy mayor for the civic year, with her cousin Caraline Holding acting as consort.
