New mayor announced for Boston

Boston Borough Council’s chief executive Phil Drury announced that Coun Rush would be taking over from Coun Stephen Woodliffe at a meeting of the full council last night (Monday).

Following the announcement Coun Rush said he was pleased to have the opportunity.

He praised Coun Woodliffe’s work and hopes to emulate what he has achieved and be proud of role.

He said: “It’s cliché, but it’s a hard act to follow.

“You [Coun Woodliffe] have done a spectacular job.

“Hopefully I can emulate that and be proud to wear the robes of Boston.”

Coun Rush will be the 483rd Mayor of Boston – a role which also gives him the title of Admiral of the Wash.

He is currently also the first UKIP councillor to take the position.

Coun Rush was elected to Boston Borough Council is 2007 as a member of the Boston Bypass Independents.

He later left the party and co-founded the Better Boston Group.

In 2011 he stood as an Independent in Frampton and Holme.

He retired in September 2012 citing ‘many months of soul-searching, alongside recent worrying return of symptoms of a long standing health issue’.

However, he returned to politics in May 2015 when he stood in the Staniland ward as a member of UKIP - helping the party to, initially, be elected to a 13-13 tie with the Conservatives in the number of seat, though moves by other elected members soon tilted the chamber in favour of the Tories again.

Coun Rush currently sits on the Boston Town Area Committee (BTAC), the Licensing Sub-Committee, the Licensing-Regulatory and Appeals Committee, the Planning Committee and the Regulatory and Appeals Sub Committee.