Sunderland appoints youngest and first Asian mayor
LDRSSunderland City Council has elected its youngest mayor, who is also the first person of Asian descent to take on the ceremonial role.
Ehthesham Haque, 28, was sworn in alongside Lynda Scanlan as the new mayoress at City Hall on Wednesday.
Haque became Labour councillor for Barnes in 2023 and was formerly the city's deputy mayor.
He described the appointment as "the proudest achievement of my life so far", adding he was "honoured to serve the city of Sunderland".
The pair take over the ceremonial chains of office from retiring mayor Allison Chisnall and consort Alistair Thomson, who have attended hundreds of engagements across the city.
'Building unity'
Close friend and Hendon ward councillor, Stephen Lewis Elms, described Haque as "a rising star" who "brought calm and clarity when our city was shaken by division and unrest after the Sunderland riots".
"He's a symbol of pride, progress and possibility," he said.
"This moment isn't just historic, it's hopeful."
Zaf Iqbal, co-chair of the Sunderland Inter Faith Forum, welcomed Haque as "the first muslim mayor for Sunderland" and urged councillors to "build inter faith relations and unity in the community".
Haque, who lives with his wife and family in the city, said he looked forward to such events as the opening of the city's latest footbridge linking the old Vaux site to the Sheepfolds area, the new Culture House at Keel Square and the Women's Rugby World Cup at the Stadium of Light.
Also sworn in by full council as deputy mayor was councillor Melanie Thornton, while her mother Carol Hopps becomes deputy mayoress.