Councillor Jacqueline Slater Becomes Mayor of BwD

The new Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen is Councillor Jacqueline Slater, who represents the Blackburn South and Lower Darwen ward.

Councillor Slater was officially made Mayor at the annual ceremony in Blackburn Town Hall on Thursday, 15 May 2025.

She will be supported in her civic role by the new Mayoress, Lillian Salton.

Councillor Jacqueline Slater, Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, commented:

In my Mayoral year, I look forward to promoting Blackburn and Darwen and supporting the young people in the borough.

My Mayoress and I are excited to meet as many people in the borough as possible and to support our chosen charities: ELHT & Me, Alzheimer’s UK, and the Darwen Rotary Club.

The Mayor added,

We are looking forward to visiting the many schools in the borough.

Any businesses, groups, and community organizations wishing to invite the Mayor to events or work with her to raise money for her chosen charities can fill out an online form to request her attendance.

Also, at this evening’s Annual Council meeting, Councillor Mahfooz Hussain was appointed Deputy Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen for 2025/26.

The new Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen will be joined by dignitaries from across the area this Sunday, 18 May, known as Civic Sunday, for a service of dedication at Blackburn Cathedral and a parade through Blackburn Town Centre.

About Councillor Jacqueline Slater
Councillor Jacqueline Slater was born in Leeds and moved to Blackburn at the age of 5 when her father became area manager for Dewhurst Butchers. She later relocated to Darwen at the age of 26 when her husband, Fred Slater, was promoted to a position at the headquarters of the Electricity Board in Manchester. Councillor Fred Slater had served as Deputy Mayor before he passed away suddenly in 2006.

She has been a Conservative councillor for 21 years, initially representing the Old Fernhurst ward and now representing Blackburn South and Lower Darwen.

Over the past 21 years as a ward councillor, she has served on the Planning Committee as both Chair and Vice-Chair, acted as the Opposition Spokesperson on Adult Services, and chaired the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Slater will be supported in her Mayoral role by Lillian Salton, who will serve as Mayoress.

Together, the Mayor and Mayoress have chosen three charities that are particularly meaningful to them: East Lancashire Hospitals Trust (ELHT & Me), Alzheimer’s UK, and Darwen Rotary Club.