Mayor supports no confidence vote ...in himself

A TOWN mayor voted for a motion of no confidence – in himself.

Independent councillor Richard Smith had resigned as mayor of Ferryhill, County Durham, after posting inflammatory comments on Facebook about gay people and Islam. The 59-year-old had shared an antigay pride video.

And he had also shared another clip with the headline ‘Group of Muslims attack a Jewish family and their little children’, to which he added the comment: ‘This is supposed to be a religion of peace. I think not.’

When Ferryhill town council members met to discuss his position Mr Smith had already resigned over the posts. But deputy mayor David Farry insisted on holding a no confidence motion, in which Mr Smith took part.

The vote was unanimous. Mr Smith, who is also a Baptist church pastor, said: ‘I won’t apologise for the conviction of my faith but I do regret any offence or harm caused.’