BARNSLEY’S new-look Reform council brushed off jeers from the public gallery and opposition councillors during their first annual full council meeting.

Last Friday saw the first meeting take place since the elections which saw the Reform Party sweep to victory with 42 seats.

It would have been the first time that former leader Sir Steve Houghton sat on the opposition benches, with Reform’s new-look cabinet - including new leader Councillor William Brown - sat in the Labour stalwart’s former seat.

The public gallery was full with both supporters of the new party in control and former Labour councillors, as well as protesters against the new regime.

And it didn’t take long for the boos and jeers to begin, as Reform went against tradition and decided to elect Councillor Liam Hardcastle as the new mayor, despite Labour councillor Jo Newing learning the role for the last year as Dave Leech’s deputy.

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: “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 council and have no choice but to vote against his nomination.”

Dickie Denton, councillor for the Lib Dems, echoed his sentiments in the chamber.

He said: “What a chance to make a statement about him 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.”

In a political world where newly-elected Reform councillors have been hitting the headlines because of what they have been saying in council meetings, Barnsley’s Reform group went against that - opting to remain silent throughout, only speaking to push through their agenda.

Coun Brown did not respond to the criticism around Coun Arnold but instead said: “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 has been 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.”