OUTSPOKEN councillor Carole Roberts plans to defy her critics by becoming Oxford's first political Lord Mayor.

The Labour councillor served notice that she does not want the Mayoral chain to be a political gag - and she angrily hit back at political opponents who said she is unworthy of being Lord Mayor.

In an unprecedented personal snub, Liberal Democrats on Oxford City Council plan not to vote for her at the Mayor-making on Wednesday.

But Cllr Roberts said: "I can only say they are being petty and childish. I think they are going to find themselves facing a real backlash. I have received hundreds of calls of support, including some Lib Dems who say they feel ashamed about what has happened.

"Some people do not like the idea of a working class woman with opinions being Lord Mayor, and one who does not pander to the middle class."

The next Mayor revealed that she is determined to break with convention even before her election.

Traditionally, the Lord Mayor is a non-political position. But Cllr Roberts believes Oxford should beat London to having a political Mayor in place. She said: "I am going to suggest having a political Mayor for the first time. Otherwise, it is obvious to me that if you try to do things all this back-biting occurs."

Cllr Roberts said she would be putting the idea shortly to Labour councillors. Her plan would mean the Lord Mayor would be able to vote, take part in debates and become involved in political controversy.

Lib Dem Jim Campbell had accused Cllr Roberts of being too aggressive. He said: "We think her manner is often not suitable, she is bad tempered and abusive."

But Cllr Roberts, a city councillor since 1983, said the Lib Dem group's leader Corinna Redman had seconded her election as Lord Mayor at a special meeting.

"She is on holiday at the moment. It seems that when the Lib Dems can't get their way they resort to this rubbish. But if this is the worst they can find about me, I shall not worry."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.