BEXLEY'S new mayor has been installed at the annual council meeting.
But the council's Tory group, which has 30 councillors to Labour's 32, put up an alternative to Labour's nomination of Councillor John Eastaugh.
Tory group leader Councillor Ian Clement said his group had nominated Councillor Bill McEwen because they thought it important to offer a genuine alternative so members could make up their own minds.
Cllr McEwen joined the council at the 2002 election but has been a Tory party member for 38 years.
But the council voted in Cllr Eastaugh as the new mayor. Aged 58, Cllr Eastaugh has represented North end ward in Slade Green 18 years.
Married to his wife Carol for 36 years he has lived in Slade Green all his married life and has two grown-up sons. A former compositor, he is a lecturer at the London College of Printing where he teaches typography.
Councillor Ron Brown was elected deputy mayor.
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