As local elections approach, the faces of authorities up and down the country could be set to change.
There are, however, two new combined authorities that are asking members of their communities to vote on a brand-new mayor for the very first time. Ahead of the elections, both York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and the East Midlands Combined County Authority have announced the candidates that will be hoping to become the first Mayor of their region.
Candidates standing in York and North Yorkshire are as follows:
- Liberal Democrats – Felicity Cunliffe Lister
- Conservative Party – Keane Duncan
- Green Party – Kevin Foster
- Labour and Co-operative Party- David Skaith
- Independent – Paul Haslam
- Independent- Keith Tordoff
After being selected as the Conservative candidate, Keane Duncan commented on what the future could hold for the region:
“Our landmark £540m devolution deal represents an unprecedented chance to unlock opportunities for everyone who lives here, particularly the next generation.
“My vision for York and North Yorkshire is one that is open for business and proud of success – a greener and more productive area embracing future industries and offering highly-skilled, well-paid job opportunities.”
Labour candidate David Skaith also touched on his selection, saying:
“I feel truly honoured to represent York and North Yorkshire as the first Mayor of the region…
“York and North Yorkshire has a wonderful blend of villages, towns, and cities that all bring their own character. Having an elected mayor will not mean these places lose their identity but it will mean we can work collectively to grow.”
In the East Midlands, the potential future mayors are:
- Liberal Democrats – Helen Tamblyn-Saville
- Conservative Party – Ben Bradley
- Green Party – Frank Adlington-Stringer
- Labour and Co-operative Party – Claire Ward
- Reform UK – Alan Graves
- Independent – Matt Relf
The closing date for nominations closed on the 5TH April, and will now see campaigning ramp up as we approach polling day. Outside of the two new combined authorities, there is the potential for new mayors around the country, with this bringing the possibility of new goals and voices leading some of the nation’s biggest and most influential regions.
Image credit: iStock
