Working together: City of Westminster to have first Labour Lord Mayor

Wednesday, 12 December, 2018

Local News

The City of Westminster is set to have its first ever Labour Lord Mayor after an agreement by the council’s Conservative and Labour Groups.

Ahead of the annual meeting of the council which elects a new Lord Mayor, both groups have agreed that only one nomination will be put forward. The Labour Group will nominate Cllr Ruth Bush, which the Conservative Party will not contest. Cllr Bush will resultantly become Lord Mayor; the first time that a Labour Councillor will have held the role.

Cllr Bush, represents Harrow Road Ward. She was first elected to the Council in 2005. The current Lord Mayor is Cllr Lindsey Hall, who represents Abbey Road Ward.

Leader of Westminster City Council, Cllr Nickie Aiken, said:

“I recognise that the Mayoralty is a civic not a political role, so I feel it’s important the Lord Mayor represents all of Westminster’s residents as part of our commitment to build a city for all. That’s why the Conservative Group has taken this historic decision not to put forward a candidate for the next Lord Mayor and work across the two political parties to further modernise the Mayoralty in Westminster.

“Ruth is a dedicated local councillor for her residents and an asset to Westminster – she’s perfect to take on this important role.”

The Lord Mayor of Westminster is the ceremonial, non-partisan and non-executive First Citizen of Westminster. They are elected annually from among Westminster’s councillors. The Lord Mayor chairs all Full Council meetings.

Westminster has had an elected mayor since its creation as a Metropolitan Borough in 1900. When the borough became the City of Westminster in 1965, following the 1963 Local Government Act, it had its first Lord Mayor – Sir Charles Norton.

In addition to chairing Full Council meetings, the Lord Mayor traditionally undertakes the following other duties:

Celebrating the achievements and supporting Westminster’s citizens and communities;
Promoting Westminster locally, nationally and internationally
Representing Westminster at civic and ceremonial events.

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Abbey Road is the northernmost ward in Westminster. It is bordered to the southeast by Regent's Park, Little Venice at its most southern point, and Maida Vale to the southwest.

Bayswater

Bayswater is on the western edge of the City of Westminster. It is bordered to the north by Westbourne, Lancaster Gate to the south and Hyde Park to the east.

Church Street

The ward of Church Street lies towards the northeast of Westminster.

Pimlico South

Pimlico South ward covers the Southern part of Pimlico.

Harrow Road

The ward of Harrow Road lies in the north of Westminster. It is bordered to the north east by Maida Vale, the south by Westbourne and the north west by Queens Park.

Hyde Park

Hyde Park Ward is home to Paddington Station, the development around Paddington Basin, St. Mary's Hospital (part of the Imperial College Healthcare Trust which is the UK's first Academic Health Science Centre) the only Hospital in the City of Westminster, and the bustle of Edgware Road.

Knightsbridge & Belgravia

Knightsbridge & Belgravia ward is at the western boundary of the Cities of London & Westminster constituency. As well as the Westminster parts of Knightsbridge & Belgravia, part of Hyde Park is also within the ward.

Lancaster Gate

Lancaster Gate lies in the west of Westminster.

Little Venice

Little Venice is located in the northeast of Westminster. The ward is bordered by Church Street and Abbey Road to the east. Maida Vale to the north, Westbourne and Hyde Park to the south.

Maida Vale

Maida Vale is located to the northwest of Westminster. The ward is bordered to the northeast by Abbey Road, to the southeast by Little Venice, to the south by Westbourne and to the southwest by Harrow Road.

Marylebone

Marylebone ward stretches from Marylebone Road to Wigmore Street, north to south, and from Portland Place to Edgware Road, east to west. The ward is currently represented by three Conservative Councillors; Barbara Arzymanow, Ian Rowley and Karen Scarborough. To find out more abou

Queen's Park

Queen's Park ward is a largely residential area in the northwest of the City.

Regent's Park

Regent's Park lies in the north of Westminster. It is bordered to the south east by Marylebone, the west by Church Street and the north by Abbey Road.

St. James's

St James's is the largest ward in the city, stretching from Vincent Square to Chancery Lane, and from the river to Piccadilly and Shaftesbury Avenue.

Vincent Square

Vincent Square Ward covers an area of central London that is bordered by the River Thames to the south, the Palace of Westminster and St. James's to the east, Victoria Station to the north and Pimlico to the west.

Pimlico North

Pimlico North ward covers the Northern part of Pimlico.

West End

West End Ward covers the iconic areas of Mayfair, Soho, Fitzrovia and East Marylebone. Along Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street and the surrounding areas, it includes some of Britain’s busiest shopping streets and is home to large numbers of theatres, entertainment and cultural venues.

Westbourne

The ward of Westbourne lies in the north of Westminster.