Worthing is used to political power changing hands on the borough council between the Tories and the Lib Dems.

But Tory councillor John Livermore has been unusually petulant over the latest twist which saw the Lib Dems assume control by winning three seats in the latest elections.

He is standing down as the next mayor of Worthing, saying that he cannot be a puppet of the Lib Dems for a year.

Coun Livermore is being silly. The position of mayor is one above party politics.

Only a few miles away in Brighton and Hove a Lib Dem, David Watkins, will later this month take office in a Labour city.

A predecessor, Jenny Langston, was a highly-successful Brighton and Hove mayor even though at that time she was a member of the Tory opposition.

There are plenty of other examples in towns and cities up and down the country. All Coun Livermore has done is to cause embarrassment.