Councillor Mike Hallam was sworn in as the 786th Mayor of Northampton during the annual Mayor Making Ceremony held at the Guildhall on 18 May 2026. This appointment places him in a civic role with a history dating back to 1215, making it the third oldest mayoralty in England.
Hallam, who represents the Parklands ward for Northampton Town Council, was first elected as a councillor in 2009. During his year in office, he will be supported by his wife, Shannon Hallam, who will serve as Mayoress. Additionally, Councillor Enam Haque and his wife Thahrima Haque were appointed as the new Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress.
For his official Mayoral charity, the new Mayor has selected The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation. Established in 2020, the local organisation provides support to vulnerable residents through food hubs, community services, and partnerships with schools. The foundation received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2023 in recognition of its work.
To support the charity, the Mayor plans to complete a 463-mile cycle challenge in August 2026. The route will take him from Belmullet in County Mayo, Ireland, through his family’s ancestral village of Castlecoote in County Roscommon, and finish in Northampton.
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