First sex-swap mayor is sworn in

Ms Bailey's mayoress is her partner former councillor Jennifer Liddle

A female councillor who was born a man has been sworn in as the UK's first transgender mayor.

Liberal Democrat Jenny Bailey, 45, who underwent a sex change operation when she was in her 30s, will become the civic leader of Cambridge City Council.

Ms Bailey's mayoress is her partner, former councillor Jennifer Liddle, who also underwent a sex change.

Ms Bailey said she was honoured that her fellow councillors had chosen her to be mayor of Cambridge.

'Great ambassador'

Ms Bailey, who was once married and has two children aged 20 and 18, said: "I think when we started this off we didn't have any anxiety at all.

"We thought 'we're transgender, but this is the 20th century, this is Cambridge, this is not an issue any more' - lots of people had known about us as transgender.

"I entered local politics because I believe in public service and because I wanted to make a contribution to the wonderful city we live in."

Council chief executive Rob Hammond said: "I'm confident Ms Bailey will be a great ambassador for Cambridge.

"It is the council's firm view that someone's gender and sexual orientation has no bearing on their suitability to hold public office."

A spokesman for the Local Government Association said Ms Bailey would be the first transgender mayor in the UK.