FORMER mayors this week accused the new Conservative-controlled Abingdon Town Council of politicising the role of mayor and violating a long-standing tradition.

Tory Mike Badcock was elected mayor on Monday night after his party used their one-seat majority to vote him in.

But critics said the role should have gone to Lib Dem Samantha Bowring — the longest-serving councillor who has not yet been mayor.

They said the unwritten rule had stood since the council was formed in 1974.

In a letter presented to the council, 17 past mayors asked councillors to observe the tradition.

They said: “The proposal to change this long-standing convention and make the mayoralty a gift of the ruling political party of the day is very regrettable.”

Mr Badcock was mayor of Abingdon 21 years ago.

Conservative Colin Kemp, who was mayor in 1994/95, said: “The long-established convention was just torn up and they voted for their own people.”

The deputy leader of the Lib Dems, Angela Lawrence, said: “Everybody should be mayor just once and everybody should get a turn. We have always adhered to that and we have the minutes of the mayor-makings to prove it. Politics is totally put to one side.

“This is dishonouring Abingdon and dishonouring the tradition.”

She added: “My own feeling was I have never felt so ashamed to be part of the town council. I just cringe to think what the public must have thought of all this.”

The Conservatives hold 11 of the 21 seats after the elections on May 5.

Lib Dem Julie Mayhew-Archer said: “It was a sad day for Abingdon to politicise the mayor in this way.”

The Conservatives took the one-seat majority by just one vote in the Abingdon Fitzharris ward.

Labour councillor Aidan Melville said: “I expected a much more bipartisan approach considering the majority was so small.”

Ms Bowring said: “I am sorry that the mayor is now a more political role as people like having it as a ceremonial role.”

Mr Badcock said: “Every single person stood for the town council with a political tag against their name and they benefited from political votes. With a majority of 11 to 10, politically we would have been very foolish to not have the deciding vote. If they were in the same position, I am certain they would do the same thing.”

He added: “What I would say is grow up and shut up, and accept the reality of political life.”

The new deputy mayor is Tory Peter Jones and leader of the council is Conservative Sandy Lovatt.

Mr Badcock’s wife Marilyn and daughter Alice are also on the council.

The outgoing mayor, Duncan Brown, raised more than £10,000 for his two chosen charities, the Abingdon Bridge Project and the Fire Fighters Charity, during his year in the role.