Barnet councillors elected their very own “Marmite Mayor” last night in the shape of Brian Coleman.

Mr Coleman, a Conservative cabinet member and the London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden, will take up the reigns from the incumbent John Marshall in May after his party colleagues unanimously backed his nomination.

Council leader Mike Freer, in nominating Mr Coleman, described him as a man “with very robust views” who is “not scared of sharing them”.

“I would liken him to being the Marmite Mayor - you either love him or you hate him,” he added. “Whatever your view, no one could question his commitment to public office and public service, not least within this borough.”

Mr Coleman, who has in the past chaired the London Assembly, said he was “deeply grateful” to his fellow Conservative councillors for voting for him.

He said: “Ken Livingstone once said: ‘Brian Coleman was the best chairman we ever had - he was equally horrible to everyone.’”

Mr Coleman's Mayoress will be his mother, Gladys Coleman.