The mayor of High Wycombe, who faced a backlash over comments he made in the wake of the terrorist attacks in France, cannot be removed from his ceremonial role, the town clerk has confirmed.

A row erupted last week over Councillor Khalil Ahmed’s statement about the attacks on French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, and a kosher supermarket in Paris.

In his statement, the mayor condemned the attacks, adding that “insulting a person’s fundamental beliefs was likely to lead to unrest”.

Some Bucks Free Press readers called for the mayor of High Wycombe’s resignation and others demanded he be removed from office.

The leader of the Conservative-run council and the Wycombe Labour group both distanced themselves from the mayor's comments. 

Councillor Ahmed rejected calls for his resignation and the town clerk has confirmed it is not legally possible for a mayor to be removed from office.

The role of mayor is described as non-political and they are selected each year by charter trustees.

Charter trustees consist of all the councillors in the parished area of High Wycombe. Once a councillor is elected, they automatically become a charter trustee.

The mayor is then selected by the charter trustees.

Paul Deacon, the town clerk, said: “Every councillor in the parished area of High Wycombe has a legal obligation to fulfil.

“A mayor cannot resign their role of charter trustees until they give up their position as a local councillor.”

Mr Deacon confirmed that, legally, a charter trustee cannot be removed by charter trustees.