Council elects youngest mayor in the country

by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
29/05/2008

Andrew Johnson elected as Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham.

‘If you are good enough you are old enough’ is the new motto of Andrew Johnson, who, at the age of 28, has become the youngest mayor in Britain.

Cllr Johnson, ward member for Fulham Reach, was named Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham at last night’s Annual General Meeting (Wednesday 28 May). He succeeds Cllr Minnie Scott Russell, who held the post for two years.

A keen motocross enthusiast, Mayor Johnson will be swapping the chains of his motorbike for the chains of office and has named Cllr Alex Karmel as his deputy. 

Mayor Johnson, said: "It is a great privilege to have been nominated to this position at such a young age. I am very proud to be able to represent all the citizens of this borough and look forward to serving as Mayor for the coming year. Hammersmith & Fulham has a significant number of young people living within it and is a vibrant place. I believe that it is a positive thing if that is reflected within the civic side of the council. It may also encourage an interest in local politics by younger people, should they see that positions such as the Mayoralty are accessible to those under the age of 35."

The son of a JCB operator and a school teacher, Mayor Johnson was born in Whitehaven, Cumbria, and studied at Lancaster University, where he gained a BA in Politics and a MA in Diplomacy, International Relations and Defence and Security Analysis. He is now an account manager for a public affairs consultancy.

Mayor Johnson was first elected as a ward councillor in May 2006 and has been Deputy Mayor for the last two years. He has also sat on the Cleaner, Greener Scrutiny Committee, Housing Scrutiny Committee, Planning Appeals Committee and served as Assistant Cabinet Member for Strategy.

Speaking of Mayor Johnson's appointment, Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, Leader of the Council, said: "Age really is no barrier to success here in Hammersmith & Fulham and Mayor Johnson is proof of that. This council has ripped up the rule book by cutting tax year after year when the majority of other councils are raising taxes every year. We have now broken the mould again by electing a young, dynamic Mayor who is full of energy and ideas. H&F is a borough of opportunity, where people can aspire to what they want." 

Outside of politics, Mayor Johnson’s main interests revolve around motorbikes. He competes in motocross and motorcycle trials on old British bikes and also restores classic bikes and classic cars. He is also interested in current affairs and travelling.

Mayor Johnson added: "I see Hammersmith & Fulham as a borough of contrasts. The role of the Mayor is to provide a sense of unity for the borough and its citizens and as such I want to focus my year as Mayor targeting groups and events who may have been overlooked in the past. I also intend to focus on seeking to highlight those individuals and organisation who do so much good work within Hammersmith & Fulham, yet do not get the recognition they deserve."