THE NEW Mayor of Worcester has invited residents to ‘spread love not hate’ during his year in office after being elected at the annual city council meeting.
Coun Jabba Riaz was unveiled as Worcester’s first citizen and the city’s second Asian mayor during a meeting on Tuesday which saw all but two councillors approve his nomination to take over from former Mayor Steve Mackay.
The Labour councillor was backed by all members apart from Conservative councillors Alan Amos and Chris Mitchell and assumes office after a year as deputy Mayor.
Coun Riaz grew up in Worcester, living in the Ronkswood, Stanley Road and Wylds Lane areas of the city.
He attended Perry Wood and Stanley Road primary schools, Nunnery Wood High School and King’s School, before studying for a degree in business in Leicester.
He is now employed by Air Products, a local company which supplies a wide range of cryogenic and specialist gases to clients in the science, leisure and industrial sectors.
The new Mayor has been a city councillor since 2000 and crossed the floor from the Conservatives to Labour in 2013.
Coun Riaz has held cabinet posts for both parties and is also a former chair of the Council’s Licensing Committee.
“I am honoured to be chosen as Mayor. I love Worcester, its people and its culture. I’ll be working tirelessly to change perceptions, unite communities and above all, to bring us all together,” he said.
“During my year in office I’ll be making the most of my chain of office to support city charities that work across our many and varied communities.”
“My theme is fitting as its 100 years since the end of the First World War where soldiers from across the Commonwealth fought for the freedoms we enjoy today.”
The new Mayor revealed his chosen charities would be St Richard’s Hospice, Worcester Community Trust and Worcester Live.
Former Mayor of Worcester Coun Allah Ditta was elected as deputy Mayor for the year ahead despite Labour councillors voting against his election.
Coun Lucy Hodgson proposed Coun Ditta for the role and said he would be ‘an asset to all communities and to the city’.
The city’s Labour group refused to back the nomination with party chiefs highlighting Labour policy to only award the role to a councillor once.
Despite their objections, Coun Ditta was backed by 18 votes to 17 with Green councillor Louis Stephen backing the Cathedral councillor.
