Westminster City Council has elected Councillor Andrew Smith to be the new Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Westminster.
Last night, on Thursday 9th September, Cllr Smith was elected the new Lord Mayor of Westminster at the first face to face Mayor Making ceremony since before the pandemic hit, which took place at Old Marylebone Town Hall.
Cllr Smith was first elected as a Councillor for Lancaster Gate in 2008 and served as Westminster City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and as Chairman of the Communities, Regeneration and Housing Policy and Scrutiny Committee, among other roles.
Attendees witnessed the election and transfer of office from Cllr Jonathan Glanz to Cllr Smith with the ceremonial switching of robes. Upon returning to the Chamber, Cllr Smith was seated on the dais and made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, marking the official changeover of Lord Mayor.
Westminster Befriend a Family has been chosen by Cllr Smith to be the beneficiary charity during his term as Lord Mayor. Befriend a Family supports vulnerable families across Westminster by providing mentoring and advice to overcome social and economic challenges such as poverty, isolation, and risk of family breakdown. Cllr Smith will provide a platform for the charity, helping to raise funds to support work to improve the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged families in Westminster.
The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Andrew Smith, said:
“I am delighted to be taking on the role as Lord Mayor and look forward to promoting the many great things that Westminster has to offer. This will be an important year in shaping the future of our city and strengthening our communities. I am confident that Westminster will bounce back, and we will see the emergence of an even better, greener, more innovative city for all.”
“Support for young people is important in ensuring the city’s recovery. This is why I have selected Westminster Befriend a Family to be my chosen charity, and I look forward to championing their mission throughout my term and beyond.”
Councillor Jonathan Glanz, the outgoing Lord Mayor of Westminster, said:
“I have had an unparalleled term as Lord Mayor of Westminster, challenging in ways that no other Mayor has seen. Despite this, it has been an honour to bear witness to and celebrate the remarkable resilience that our communities and Council staff have shown throughout this unprecedented time.
“It is important to highlight all of the positive things that have happened during my term of office, and I am pleased that I was able to attend so many community events, both virtually and in person, to pay tribute to our volunteers and key workers for the incredible role they have played in supporting our city. I wish Andrew all the best for his time in office and a fantastic term ahead.”
Since its creation as a Metropolitan Borough in 1900, Westminster has had an elected mayor. When the borough became the City of Westminster in 1965 it had its first Lord Mayor, Sir Charles Norton.
The Lord Mayor is the Ceremonial Head of the City of Westminster, the First Citizen of the City, and the Chairman of the Council during their year of office, chairing all Full Council meetings. They are elected annually from among Westminster’s councillors.
