The Mayor of Witney is elected after a majority vote of councillors annually at the beginning of May at the Town Council’s Annual Meeting. The Mayor is the Chairman of the Council, is entitled to attend all meetings in an ex officio capacity and presides over the Full Council meetings. They are the elected representative of the Council who leads civic engagements and attends public events in Witney. Historically, the Mayor is bestowed the honorary title of first citizen of the town and is also an Honorary Rotarian during their year.
The Mayor of Witney for 2025-26 is Councillor Andy Bailey
Andy Bailey was elected Mayor of Witney in 2025, bringing over a decade of experience in public policy, human rights, and governmental advocacy to his role. He has lived in Witney for the past 12 years with his wife Hannah and their young son Aedan.
Professionally, Andy is recognised as a leading expert in Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). He has advised governments, parliamentarians, and international organisations on issues including atrocity prevention, minority rights, modern slavery , and supply chain accountability. His roles in Parliament have included Director of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Genocide Prevention and Senior Parliamentary Officer for the APPG on FoRB. He has contributed to UK foreign policy and United Nations initiatives focused on conflict prevention, Artificial Intelligence, and human rights.
Closer to home, Andy is an active member of St Mary’s Church in Witney, has been involved in efforts to tackle pollution in the River Windrush and support refugees.
Andy studied History at the University of Leicester and has qualifications from the University of Oxford, Intrac, and Bond in advocacy strategy and project management.
As Mayor, Andy wants to ensure that Witney continues to be a welcoming, forward-looking town that values its heritage, supports families, and listens to every voice. His priorities include supporting young people, safeguarding the local environment, and promoting openness and compassion in local government.
The Mayor’s Charities
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Deputy Mayor
The Deputy Mayor is Councillor Jane Doughty.
Leader of the Council
The Leader of the Council is Councillor Dr Ruth Smith.
Deputy Leader of the Council
The Deputy Leader is Councillor Joy Aitman.
Request the Mayor
To request the Mayor at an event please complete our Booking the Mayor Form or contact the Mayor’s Diary secretary loraine.harwood@witney-tc.gov.uk
Please also contact the Mayor’s Diary Secretary if you would like an editable word version of the booking form by email.
