LIVE: Labour's Gregson becomes Mayor as Bayliss returned as council leader - The Worcester Observer

LIVE: Labour's Gregson becomes Mayor as Bayliss returned as council leader

Worcester Editorial 17th May, 2022 Updated: 17th May, 2022   0

That’s your lot. Congratulations to Mayor of Worcester Coun Adrian Gregson and returned leader of Worcester City Council Coun Marc Bayliss.

9.07pm – Somewhat of an interesting vote, no surprise at Labour not taking part nor a vote against but having proposed this system its a head scratcher as to why the Greens would not endorse Coun Bayliss and abstained

8.59pm – BREAKING: Coun Marc Bayliss reappointed leader of Worcester City Council.

Labour voted against the nomination while the Green Party, despite voting for this structure, abstaining.




8.57pm – Labour refuse to nominate a co leader so we are now electing a sole leader of Worcester City Council in Coun Marc Bayliss.

8.53pm – Coun Louis Stephen has been voted as the deputy Mayor of Worcester. If elected 12 months from now he will become the first Green Mayor of Worcester.


He was elected by a majority with the Liberal Democrats abstaining

8.51pm – BREAKING: GREEN PARTY MOTION FOR CO LEADERS WINS BY 21 VOTES TO 14. 

But will Labour now join the agreement? Remember the motion states should Labour refuse to nominate a candidate for co leader there will be just one co leader.

8.47pm – Coun Stephen is summing up,  we are ready to vote…

8.44pm – Coun Pat Agar is the final speaker tonight. Brands the Green Party as kingmakers and says she is disappointed the motion has been tabled.

8.39pm – Coun Tom Pietrowski makes his maiden speech at the Guidhall and questions the nature of some of the comments tonight.

“We are not here to divide and rule, we are here to unite and build”.

8.34pm – Coun James Stanley points out there is a lot of work to be done and the ‘people won’t thank us if we spend much longer talking about this.’

8.31pm – Green Party Coun Majory Bissett defends the motion, rejects the claims the party is naive and that it’s propping up the Tories.

“Voters have told us on the doorstep and I am sure we’ve all heard it. Party politics has no place at the Guildhall.”

8.29pm – Coun Chris Mitchell stands in respect to the new Mayor and points out the motion is for a joint leadership ‘unless I’ve misread it and I haven’t!’

Interesting to see Labour’s tactics appear to be trying to tie the efforts of Conservatives locally to the party nationally…

We’ve heard a Rainbow Coalition, Coun Lamb calls for a ‘traffic light agreement’

8.23pm – Coun Matt Lamb confirms he will vote against the plans and raises the spectre of the civil war within the party.

8.21pm – Coun Andy Roberts points out the work done cross party on such things as the freedom of the City for Basil D’Oliveira.

8.17pm – Labour’s deputy leader Coun Jabba Riaz is up and points out the Green Party’s defeat and says he has been contacted by people ‘disgusted’ by the Green Party’s proposals.

8.14pm – Coun Bayliss highlighting the successes of the joint working which has taken place in Worcester’s politics.

“I hold our the hand of friendship and collaboration to anyone who wants to work together for the people of Worcester.

  • “We are not in charge of Worcester, the people of Worcester are in charge.”

8.12pm – Conservative leader Coun Marc Bayliss is now up and offers congratulations to the Mayor of Worcester.

“Everyone would think we haven’t done this before. We have shared leadership for four of the last five years apart from last year when we won a majority.”

8.10pm – “If you vote for Caroline Lucas nationally you don’t expect to end up with Boris Johnson.” – quite!

8.08pm – It’s a criticism shared by Labour leader Coun Lynn Denham who says the ‘Tory dictatorship’ needs to be removed…

8.06pm – Coun Mel Allcott is straight out of the blocks in opposition branding the motion ‘naive’ and ‘fundamentally flawed’

8.04pm – Coun Stephen points out neither Labour or the Conservatives are close to a majority at the Guildhall.

“This council makes decisions, we make decisions in our committee system.

“Tribalism and opposition for oppostions sake is tiresome”

8.00pm – Coun Louis Stephen is up first to introduce his motion for a co-leaders, a sharing of power following the May 5 election which put Worcester back in no overall control.

A reminder Labour have tabled a motion which calls for the leader to be elected by a vote at council.

7.59pm – The annual council meeting is over, now to the extraordinary council meeting. Who governs Worcester for the next 12 months?

7.54pm – Mayor of Worcester Coun Adrian Gregson reveals his theme will be tackling mental health through music.

7.52pm – It’s fair to say a generous Coub Hodgson has dished out a fair few gifts as thank yous.

7.47pm – A truly emotional moment as Worcester’s long serving sword bearer is honoured by Coun Hodgson with an impromptu standing ovation.

7.40pm – Coun Hodgson hopes the bid to ensure Worcester elects a Lord Mayor is successful and highlights the challenge of facing 17 other areas.

7.34pm – Coun Hodgson reflects on his year in office including Worcester’s Big Parade and the Arches Festivals in the city. Celebrations he says which have ‘brought the city back together after Covid.

7.31pm – Coun Hodgson begins his thank yous by reflecting on the night he became Mayor which was the first meeting after Covid restrictions were lifted with Councillors sitting far apart.

7.28pm – “You’ve had a tremendous year, you have been wonderfully supported and I hope the residents appreciate your efforts. I know I do, I doff my cap. Well done,” Coun Mitchell said

7.23pm – A vote of thanks is now being given to outgoing Mayor of Worcester Coub Stephen Hodgson. Coun Chris Mitchell begins with an A3 sheet of paper!

Coun Mitchell highlights Coun Hodgson’s charity work and his tireless support of teams such as Warriors and his beloved Sunderland

7.18pm – Labour’s former leader Coun Adrian Gregson has been nominated and elected unopposed as the new Mayor of Worcester.

He was nominated by new Labour group leader Coun Lynn Denham and seconded by Coub Richard Udall.

GOOD Evening, welcome to our LIVE blog from the Guildhall as Worcester’s Mayor will be decided as will the leadership for the next 12 months.

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