Man About Town - Councillor Kay

Published in Beartown Voice - July 2025

By Mark Edwardson

There's been a changing of the guard in Congleton recently. We have a new Town Mayor in the form of a dear friend of mine, Councillor Robert Brittain. Bob has got big shoes to fill. He succeeds local businesswoman, activist and mum of four, Councillor Kay Wesley. And he can expect to be very busy over the next twelve months. I caught up with Kay shortly after she handed over the mayoral chain.

Kay was the first Women's Equality Party member to be elected anywhere in the UK. "I never intended to enter politics. I was a very reluctant candidate," she told me. "But it ended up really London-centric and I had run-ins with them all along." She continued, "It felt like I was in two different worlds. We went for the grass roots approach. I'd be in Congleton and we'd do what we do and we were successful and well liked. Nationally, they were trying the same old thing." WEP is now defunct. It's been replaced by the Equality Party which Kay helped found.

First elected to Congleton Town Council in 2019 Kay's rise to become the town's number one citizen has been rapid. She says hasn't gone to her head. "I've tried to make a difference. I've worked on projects to make the town better. Being Mayor allows you to get more people involved in community life." Kay's particularly proud of launching the Disability Welcome Awards in shops and businesses. "They were really excited to be involved. We also started the Town Hall tours which you can only do as the Mayor. It's bringing in young people to explain what the Council does as well as explaining the history of the building and its treasures."

Kay, like her predecessors has been busy with hundreds of events during her year as Mayor. "It's seven days a week, really. There's no weekends off. My husband Mike and I decided we'd just launch ourselves in to it. We enjoyed it and it felt like a holiday!"

Kay Wesley is a big supporter of Congleton's Pride event. She says it was an eye-opener for many Mayors and dignitaries from neighbouring towns and villages. "Some of them hadn't spoken to their own Pride groups before and hadn't really understood how it's about creating an inclusive town. It's incumbent on them to be part of it."

Kay recalls one of her favourite events with affection. "At New Year we went Wassailing up Congleton Edge." Intrigued and curious I asked for more details. Kay said, "It's like a pagan ritual. They had a teepee, there were woodland crafts and they burnt a dried up Christmas. I'm sure about the significance of that. They were all banging drums and bells and wearing pagan masks."

So, was it akin to a reboot of the "Wicker Man"? "I went as a witch. I think that was the appropriate attire." Kay was also adorned in some of her office's attire. "It was like the Mayor Witch Project!" She cackled.

Kay's word's not mine.

All information accurate as of June 2025.