The appointment of a new mayor in Sandwell has prompted Labour to accuse Reform of breaking with tradition. Reform councillor Margaret Sutton was elected the new mayor of Sandwell in the first official act of the new Reform-led Sandwell Council on Tuesday night, May 26.
Labour's Criticism
Labour, now the opposition party in Sandwell after losing control of the borough for the first time since 1979, accused Reform of breaking from tradition and nominating its own mayor instead of rewarding the council’s longest-serving councillor with the civic role. Labour leader Paul Moore said that Cllr Elaine Giles, who last year served as deputy mayor, should be granted the title of Sandwell’s first citizen based on her more than 20 years of experience as a councillor.
However, Reform nominated Cllr Sutton, who was elected in the Great Barr, Tamebridge and Yew Tree ward earlier this month, to serve as mayor for the coming 12 months. The support of Reform councillors, who swept into power with 41 seats following elections on May 7, was enough to confirm the appointment. The vote saw 37 councillors in support, 28 voting against, and one abstention.
Cllr Moore said the move was a “very poor start from Reform” and “Sandwell deserved better.” He stated at the meeting: “The mayoralty is meant to be above party politics, it’s meant to unite this borough and not reflect the political priorities of whatever group holds the most seats at a given moment. By breaking from this convention, Reform UK risks turning a respected office into a political appointment.”
Reform's Response
Cllr Tuli Zefi, the newly elected Reform councillor in the Langley ward, said Sandwell had voted for change and “that is what they were giving them.” The move had angered other Labour councillors, with Cllr Luke John Davies accusing Reform of wasting taxpayers’ money to seek legal advice over Cllr Sutton’s appointment and “weaselling their way around the rules.” “I hope it’s not a sign of things to come,” he said at Tuesday’s meeting.
Labour deputy leader Maria Compton added that the mayorship was a “prestigious position and non-political role given as a result of dedication.” Cllr Liam Preece said the appointment would be a “brazen act of political cynicism” made by people who had “not yet grasped the weight of their responsibilities.” Cllr John Tipper, one of the council’s two Greens to vote against the appointment, said that despite opposing the move he would not be “taking a tedious civics lecture from Labour.”
Historical Context
The borough’s last two Labour mayors, Steve Melia and Syeda Khatun, were both experienced councillors. However, Richard Jones served as mayor in 2022 having been elected in 2019, and Mushtaq Hussain became mayor in 2021 having been elected three years earlier. Bill Gavan was elected in 2014 and served as mayor in 2023/24.
New Mayor's Vision
Accepting the role as Sandwell’s first citizen, Cllr Sutton advised new and returning councillors to “listen, work hard and work together.” “We are all here to serve the people,” she said. Sandwell’s first Reform mayor said she would be “promoting togetherness in the local community” during the year, adding that “everyone was equal and everyone mattered.” Cllr Sutton’s chosen charities for the mayoral year include Sandwell Victim Support and West Midlands Air Ambulance.
Cllr Sutton was a former Conservative councillor on Birmingham City Council throughout the late 1990s and 2000s and served in Kings Norton alongside her husband Geoffery Sutton, who was also elected for Reform in the Princes End ward earlier this month.
