The robe is trimmed with ermine, which is the white winter coat of the stoat from Northern regions of Europe.
The robe is trimmed with ermine, which is the white winter coat of the stoat from Northern regions of Europe.
Councillor Holt is also considering boycotting the annual visit to Stockport's twin French town, Beziers, as a protest against its financial support of bullfighting. Councillor Holt commented, "When I realised the mayoral robe was decorated with real fur I refused to wear it and will not be doing so during my year in office. I am very much opposed to any cruelty to animals."
Councillor Holt, who says he is not a vegetarian although he is a campaigner against animal cruelty, hit the headlines four years ago (1999) when he backed a campaign urging Stockport people to protest against the "barbaric sport of bullfighting" in Beziers. Beziers is in the only part of France, along the Southern border with Spain, where bullfighting takes place.
Commenting further on the annual trip to Beziers, Holt added, "I am considering what to do about it. There are two ways of looking at it: either to go and make the point to our friends while I'm in Beziers, or to make the point by staying away. The council has officially called on Beziers council to cease financing bullfighting in the town."