BRIGHTON and Hove has its youngest ever mayor after councillors elected 33-year-old Green councillor Alex Phillips.

She took up the chains of office at Brighton Town Hall with her 19-month-old son on her lap and her husband, Green councillor Tom Druitt, appointed as consort.

She was nominated by Green leader Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty and seconded by former Green mayor Councillor Pete West.

She first won a seat in Goldsmid ward in a by-election in 2009, becoming the youngest councillor ever elected, aged 23.

She is the only Brighton and Hove City Council member to have served in both Hove and Brighton. She currently represents Regency ward along with her husband Councillor Tom Druitt.

Even at 33, she is the second longest-serving member of the Green group after Councillor West.

Councillor Mac Cafferty said: “[Former US President] Lyndon B Johnson said when the burdens of office seemed particularly heavy, I remind myself it could be worse. I could be a mayor.”

Councillor West said: “She will make a wonderful mayor, bringing an amazing energy to the office.”

After taking up the robes of office Councillor Phillips thanked her husband – and her son Rafi for being a quiet boy who slept through the night.

This was after he had sat on her lap and grabbed at the mayoral chain of office, prompting laughter in the council chamber.

Councillor Phillips thanked departing mayor Councillor Dee Simson, saying that she had learnt so much from her predecessor.

She wants to support 20 different charities, with a focus on promoting the work rather than focusing so much on the money.

Her chosen charities are Allsorts, BHT, Brighton Women’s Centre, CRUSE, Grace Eyre, Oasis Project, RISE, Survivors’ Network, Sustrans, Whoopsadaisy, Amaze, Brighton Table Tennis Club, Clock Town Sanctuary, Extratime, Hummingbird Project, Off The Fence, Rockinghorse, Sussex Night Stop and the Martlets.

When she travels around the city Councillor Phillips plans either to walk or take the bus.

“I will be bringing Rafi to show people you can hold a position as a woman and raise a family.”

Alex Phillips is also standing for election to the European Parliament.

The results had not been announced when the Argus went to press.

It is not yet clear what impact. if any, becoming an MEP would have on Cllr Phillips’s mayoral commitments.