02/06/2016

Brian Kingston Appointed New Lord Mayor Of Belfast

DUP Councillor Brian Kingston has been appointed the new Lord Mayor of Belfast.

He is taking over from Sinn Féin's Arder Carson and was handed the chains on Wednesday, 01 June.

He said: "It is a great honour for me to be selected for the position of Lord Mayor of my home city. I am very proud to come from Belfast and, as a Councillor, I have taken huge pleasure in seeing the great strides forward that our city is making year on year.

"I will do my utmost during my term of office to promote the inclusive growth of our capital city's economy, to advance our international connections, attract international events and to support all those who make Belfast a compassionate and caring city."

Sinn Féin's Mary Ellen Campbell was also appointed Deputy Mayor.

She is the first openly gay person to take on the role.

She said: "I look forward to representing all the citizens of Belfast in the role of Deputy Mayor regardless of creed, class, gender or ethnicity and discharging my duties in the most inclusive and equal basis possible.

"As a lifelong equality campaigner I know only too well that many within our communities right across the city live daily with discrimination, hate crime and exclusion. I will continue to do all I can to challenge that."

(CD/JP)

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