New Lord Mayor Val Smith was sworn in joking that her Government minister husband, Andrew Smith, would have to learn to walk three paces behind her.

Mr Smith, MP for Oxford East and the Minister of State for Employment, but never Oxford's Lord Mayor, was not at the ceremony at Oxford Town Hall yesterday.

In a statement to the mayor-making ceremony he gave his apologies, saying every MP in the Commons had been kept back to consider the welfare reform motion. The letter read: "I am so sorry I am unable to get there today. Most of all my apologies are to Val. I am very upset not to be there for her."

About 140 people, including city councillors, the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Hugo Brunner, and Oxford University dignitaries watched as outgoing Mayor Carole Roberts handed over the chain of office to Mrs Smith, a Labour councillor for Blackbird Leys.

Cllr Smith, an adopted child originally from Salford, said of Oxford: "I am immensely proud of the city."

She joked: "My husband Andrew could have been here. It could have been a different story. He will have to learn to walk three paces behind me."

Story date: Friday 21 May

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