OUTRAGED Conservatives boycotted a mayor-making ceremony in a political protest while launching accusations that Frinton and Walton residents are being let down.

The annual mayor-making ceremony for Frinton and Walton Town Council saw Jack Robertson chosen to continue as mayor for another year.

He described it as a “pleasure and an honour” to be asked to represent the area for another year.

Robert Bucke will also continue as deputy for the next year, and councillors were selected to contribute to the various committees and working parties.

But fuming Tory councillors refused to show up for the meeting.

In the past, the working party selection process has sparked huge rows between the different political factions on the council.

For years, the controlling party has been accused of using its majority vote to make sure its members make up the committees, while opposition councillors are shut out.

Tendring First holds a majority of seats on the town council.

Members vote to keep the Conservatives off the working parties, despite fierce objections from the Tories.

But this year the Conservatives took their protest to the next level by refusing to turn up to the ceremony.

They said it was a protest against being left out of vital decision-making for a 10th year, and claimed the Tendring First tactic was letting the area down.

Tory town councillor Nick Turner said: “Every year, we go through the farcical process of making suggestions in order to achieve a political balance on the council’s committees.

“We have experience and talent to offer the local community, but because there is no Widdecombe Rule reflecting the political balance of the council, we are denied seats on the committees and working parties which make all the decisions.

“This has been the case since 2007.

It seems that there really is no point in our turning up to this meeting.”

Fellow Tory Mark Brown pointed out seven of the town’s 16 councillors were Conservative, including three out of four in Frinton.

He claimed the area was not getting “proper representation”.

But Tendring First has hit back over the claim.

Councillor Terry Allen said: “It was not only a mayor-making meeting, it was also the time when members are nominated for and voted onto the various committees.

“Not one of the Conservative councillors bothered to turn up to nominate or be nominated, and not being there at this important meeting excludes them from the committees.

“They should remember it is those that turn up who make the decisions.

It’s a disgrace.”