A FORMER leader of Oxfordshire County Council has made a return to politics – at a parish council.

Keith Mitchell, who led the county council for 11 years, was yesterday confirmed as a new parish councillor for Adderbury after a by-election on Thursday.

Mr Mitchell narrowly won, beating rival candidate Peter Burrows by just four votes.

In total, 528 votes were cast and Mr Mitchell received 266.

Last night he could not be reached for comment, but in a blog post on his website before the election the councillor pledged to represent ‘the whole of Adderbury village and not a sectional part of it’.

Joking that he thought his time in local government had been over, he added: “My largest charitable role is ending in February so I will have some time for a different interest and I know I can bring a lot of experience and personal skills to democracy at the lowest level.

“I make no pretence that Adderbury Parish Council has any significant powers to change the world.

“But it is the closest democratic body to the people it represents and this is a fine large village with plenty of potential.”