ONE person was ejected from the public gallery during Barnsley Council’s annual full council meeting.
Cries of ‘shame’ and ‘boos’ were heard from the gallery throughout the meeting, as Liam Hardcastle was elected the new mayor and Councillor William Brown the leader of the council.
Coun Jo Newing, who had been the deputy for the last year, was not elected to be mayor for the first time in Barnsley’s history - with Reform’s Hardcastle instead taking the role on.
Councillor Hardcastle said: “I am truly honoured and humbled to be chosen as civic mayor of Barnsley.
“I would like to thank my colleagues.
“Your support and confidence and kind words mean a great deal to me.
“This is a responsibility that I accept with pride and I look forward to serving the people of Barnsley with dedication.
“Barnsley is a borough built on strong communities.”
He announced the two charities he will support throughout the year are BIADS and Barnsley Hospital Charity.
Hoyland Milton councillor Michael Davies was elected as the deputy mayor.
Councillor William Brown was officially elected as the leader of the council - but Labour and Lib Dem did not vote in his favour.
Councillor James Higginbottom, leader of Labour, said that Reform’s stance on Coun Andy Arnold - who is facing pressure to resign after photographs emerged which appeared to show him with a swastika tattoo - was a major factor.
He said: “The honour of representing the people of Barnsley and to serve as custodians of this great place should never be forgotten by those upon whom the honour of leadership is bestowed.
"I hope that will be remembered here today and throughout the next four years
"Leadership is also a recognition that each of us walks in the footsteps of those who have gone before; and it would be remiss of me not to place on record my profound thanks and gratitude to Councillor Sir Steve Houghton, who has served this Borough and its people as the Leader of the Council for almost 30 years.
"Steve has been a visionary. The immense progress and regeneration of Barnsley would not have happened without his leadership, courage and determination.
"The Labour Group recognises and accepts the results of the elections held on 7th May 2026.
"Those results were devastating for our party, a reflection on national conversations that loomed far above local concerns in the public imagination, with many good colleagues paying the price for that.
"The Labour Group will now take our place as the official opposition in Barnsley. That will take some getting usedto, but it is an important role and one that we will always approach with the respect that is demanded.
"Where we see success, we will be strong champions.Because fundamentally we want the same thing – the continued improvement of Barnsley.
"Where we see shortcomings, we will be the robust and vocal opposition that the people of Barnsley have every right to expect.
"Providing that check and balance to the Administration – not to discredit or diminish, but to hold those in power to account.
"And above all else, we will always be a powerful voice for the values of fairness and justice that Barnsley people would expect.
"As we stand here today at the opening of a new chapter in Barnsley’s political history, it is with a genuinely heavy heart that we are not able to support the election of the new Leader of the Council.
"Members in this Chamber, and beyond, will have been shocked and appalled at the revelations that have emerged in recent days relating to one newly elected councillor in particular.
"Members do not need me to spell out this appalling and shameful tale; it is covered by almost every local, regional and national media outlet.
"And the view of the Labour Group remains unchanged.
"These associations with the most heinous ideology of the last century render the member in question unfit to hold public office.
"He should resign from this Council with immediate effect and allow the good people of Wombwell to cast their verdict on this situation
"We hoped that it would go without saying that the incoming Leadership would have supported that course of action wholeheartedly.
"Not weighed in to defend the indefensible and offer excuses that seek to take the public for fools.
"Leadership is a test.
"A test of judgement. A test of courage. A test of morality.
By every measure, Coun Brown has failed those tests.
"We cannot support his election as Leader of the Counciland have no choice but to vote against his nomination."
Dickie Denton, councillor for the Lib Dems, echoed his sentiments in the chamber.
He said: "I had hoped to be able to give Coun Brown tacit support as the democratically elected of the largest party and waited to see how he would rise to the challenge of his first test.
"The discovery of neo Buddhism lurking in his party.
"It was his chance to put the stamp of his personality and values on the council.
"I waited and waited - and then it eventually arrived.
"And wow, what an opportunity missed, what a chance to make a statement about his himself and his party.
"Well, he certainly did that.
"Not a recognition that one of his councillors has in the past sported a symbol that could be perceived as grossly offensive to many residents, not an acknowledgement of abhorrent associations that symbol represents to most people not familiar with the iconography of Buddhism, not a statement setting out his position on the groups and individuals who do or ever have associated themselves with that symbol, no apology for any offence inadvertently caused.
"No, just a parroted rehash of a script handed to him by Coun Theresa Arnold, no doubt rubber stamped by his millionaire crypto currency puppet masters and pliantly delivered with the fawning obedience of a first former’s first day at big school.
"Where there should have been values there was a vacuum, where there should have been transparency there was deflection, where there should have been ownership there was denial.
"It was a quite wretched display of leadership not befitting of the office for which he is being proposed, and I sincerely hope not a taste of things to come."
Deputy Edward Dillingham waived his right to reply, while Coun Brown said he was ‘honoured by the support’.
“ I'm honoured by the support of my fellow councillors. I would like to respond and say, for a long time now, Barnsley, it would appear as being a bit of a monopoly with regard to who's leading the council.
"And I'm just honoured that the people of Barnsley have used democracy, putting their voice forward for me to deliver, and that's what I'll be doing."
He did not comment on the current controversy around Coun Arnold.
