Rodgers Gets City's Top Civic Job

Ulster Unionist Jim Rodgers has been elected as Belfast's new lord mayor.

Mr Rodgers, a councillor for the Victoria Ward, was previously the city's civic head in 2001. He succeeds the SDLP's Pat McCarthy in the post.

He pledged to do what was best for the city and its citizens - regardless of religion or race - during his term of office.

"I want to assure every member of this council that I will be an impartial lord mayor," he said.

"I will do what's best for the council and also for this great city of ours, regardless of the person's religion, colour, class and creed.

"It is vitally important we carry on that work that's been done for many years."

There had been speculation that a Sinn Fein councillor would become the party's second lord mayor of the city.

Although it is the largest party it does not have a majority and needed the support of other parties to get their candidate, Tierna Cunningham, elected.

However, the SDLP gave their support to Mr Rodgers at Monday's council meeting.