SDLP man elected lord mayor

Martin Morgan received the chain from Alex Maskey

Martin Morgan of the SDLP is the new Lord Mayor of Belfast.

He replaces Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey who was the republican party's first lord mayor of the city.

Mr Morgan was elected to the position during a ballot of councillors at Belfast City Hall on Monday.

He received 26 votes and was backed by members of his own party, Sinn Fein and the Alliance Party.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Morgan said he would be working with the other parties on the council.

He said: "The SDLP has a very clear message and theme throughout its history - that of partnership.

"Through partnership and consultation with other political parties, with our strategic social partners, the trade union movement, we will create a common agenda for all our citizens."

Unionist deputy

The north Belfast councillor beat off the challenge of two unionist candidates to become the second member of the nationalist SDLP to hold the post.

Bob Stoker of the Ulster Unionist Party got 14 votes while Robin Newton of the Democratic Unionist Party had 10 votes.

Margaret Crooks of the Ulster Unionist Party was elected deputy lord mayor - a position that was not filled over the past year because unionists refused to put forward a candidate while Alex Maskey was lord mayor.

Unionist councillors, the second largest bloc on the council, walked out of Belfast City Hall when he was elected and said they would withhold co-operation with Sinn Fein.

Mr Maskey said he believed his term in office was successful, a verdict that was rejected by the DUP's Sammy Wilson.

He described the past year as an "annus horribilis" for unionists.

Limavady Borough Council elected its first Sinn Fein mayor on Monday night.

Anne Brolly was backed by eight of the 14 councillors present at the meeting in the County Londonderry town.

The outgoing mayor, DUP Alderman George Robinson, said it was a sad day for the borough when a party "inextricably linked to the IRA" could hold the position of first citizen.

Ulster Unionist Councillor Jack Rankin was unanimously elected as deputy mayor.