Inga is the first ever Liberal Democrat mayor of Ipswich

4.41.06pm GMT Thu 17th May 2007

Popular St Margaret's ward councillor Inga Lockington has been elected to serve as the mayor of Ipswich, and is the first ever Liberal Democrat mayor, with some 4 decades having elapsed since the last Liberal mayor of Ipswich.

Inga's LibDem colleague Richard Atkins was proud to nominate her for this position, which he said she richly deserved after her work in the ward and on behalf of the Liberal Democrats in Ipswich. The nomination was seconded by Conservative councillor David Hale, who became a councillor in the same election as Inga, and who paid tribute to how well Inga has done on the council, particularly in her first year, when she was the only LibDem councillor.

It is tradition that the mayor makes their own selection of charities to support during their year, and Inga chose freedom as the theme, following on from the anniversary of the abolition of slavery. She chose to support the "Somebody's Daughter Memorial Fund" to help those enslaved by drugs and prostitution. Inga's next choice was to support the Parkinson's Disease Society, having experienced this in her family and through her husband's work. Inga's other charity is the Ipswich Wildlife Group, who also support measures aimed at reducing climate change.

Inga expressed thanks for being elected as mayor of the Borough and joked "for years, I have followed my husband, Dr Tim Lockington, to different places in England for his work. This year, I can get my own back, when he, as my consort, can follow me."