Tom Wootton is a British Conservative Party local politician. He became the directly elected Mayor of Bedford in May 2023 local elections and was previously the Bedford Borough Councillor for Wyboston Ward.[1][2][3]
Wootton defeated incumbent Dave Hodgson, a Liberal Democrat who had held the office of mayor for 13 years, by just 145 votes under the first-past-the-post system.[4][5] According to the Sunday Telegraph, Wootton was successful in the election due to his "uncompromising line" on the controversial East West Rail project, which he branded as an "utter disaster from start to finish".[5]
He lives in Ravensden where he manages the family farm, and is married with four children.[6]