Cllr Tom Hayes, who has represented St Clements ward on Oxford City Council
since 2014, has resigned today (5 th March).
Cllr Hayes is the Labour Candidate in the battleground seat of Bournemouth East in
the General Election.
He has played an important role in the City Council Labour Group and the wider
Council, having been the Council’s Deputy Leader from 2020 to 2022 and the
Cabinet Member responsible for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford, tackling
the impact of climate change locally from 2018 to 2022.
This brief has included kick starting plans to reduce the city’s air pollution and traffic
congestion and moving the Council towards reaching its target of being a Zero
Carbon Council by 2030.
Cllr Susan Brown paid tribute to his contribution in tackling the city’s environmental
challenges and his work locally in St Clements.
“Tom has been a hard-working Councillor and a passionate advocate of a green
agenda designed to improve the health of our city and making it a cleaner and more
pleasant place to live.
He led the creation of the first Citizen’s Assembly on Climate Change in the UK in
2019 and worked hard with the County Council to get the Zero Emission policies off
the ground.
During his time in the Cabinet, he developed and delivered the public-private
partnership which provided Energy Superhub Oxford (ESO), including the world's
largest hybrid battery, the UK's largest EV superhub at Redbridge Park and Ride.
With a General Election this year, and perhaps as early as May, Tom is working hard
to win this critical seat for Labour in Bournemouth. I wish my former Deputy Leader
all the best in his coming battle against the Tories.”
Cllr Hayes said about his time as an Oxford City Councillor.
“I have enjoyed my time as a Councillor, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member and
am proud to have delivered greener transport and plans to make the city a better and
healthier place to live. We have managed to innovate successfully with the Citizen’s
Assembly and the Superhub.
As a backbench councillor, I have just concluded some important casework in the
ward and now feel able to resign with immediate effect.”
Labour has chosen Jesse Erlam, an experienced campaigner, to fight the St
Clements seat in May.