2024 East Midlands mayoral election

The 2024 East Midlands mayoral election is due to be held on 2 May 2024 to elect the first mayor of the East Midlands.

2024 East Midlands mayoral election
2 May 2024
 
Candidate Ben Bradley Matt Relf Claire Ward
Party Conservative Independent Labour
Local authority districts within the East Midland Combined Authority.

Background

The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 introduced directly elected mayors for combined authorities. Combined authorities cover multiple local government areas. A combined authority covering Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire was first proposed in 2016. Some later proposals also included Leicestershire. Ultimately, the East Midlands Combined Authority included only Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, covering the region of Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council. During consultation, a minority of respondents supported the introduction of a mayor for the region.[1] The local authorities concerned voted to proceed with devolution plans, including the establishment of a directly elected mayor of the East Midlands, in March 2023.[2]

Some politicians in Leicestershire expressed regret at being left out of the devolution deal, which had been opposed by Leicester City Council. The Centre for Cities said that even combining Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire was "a mistake" as "they are two different counties with distinct local economic needs".[3]

Procedure

The election will take place under first-past-the-post voting. Voters will be able to vote for one candidate, and the candidate with the greatest numbers of votes will become mayor of the East Midlands.

Candidate selection

Conservative Party

The Conservative Party selected the MP for Mansfield and Nottinghamshire council leader Ben Bradley as their candidate in September 2023.[4]

The leader of Derbyshire County Council, Barry Lewis, unsuccessfully sought the Conservative nomination.[5] Lewis said he would seek to support the manufacturing industry and oppose any proposals for ultra low-emission zone schemes.[5]

Labour Party

Labour opened applications in May 2023 and is expected to select a candidate by August 2023.[6] On 4 August 2023, the former MP Claire Ward was selected with 50.4% of the vote.[7] Ward promised to build new affordable homes, integrate public transport and fund "thousands of new green jobs".[8]

Nominated

Lost nomination

Not shortlisted

  • Adele Williams, Nottingham City councillor.
  • Suqie Banwait
Labour East Midlands mayoral candidate selection[10]
Candidate Votes  %
Claire Ward
50.3%
Paddy Tipping
34.3%
John Hess
15.4%

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats have not yet selected their candidate.[10]

Others

Matt Relf, an Ashfield Independents councillor, announced that he would run as an independent candidate, saying he could work with both Labour and Conservative councils.[11]

The Green Party said they would not stand a candidate.[10]

References
  1. Boakye, Kwame (14 March 2023). "Public split on plans for an East Midlands mayor". Local Government Chronicle (LGC). Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  2. Boakye, Kwame (31 March 2023). "East Midlands to proceed with devolution deal". Local Government Chronicle (LGC). Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  3. Murray, Jessica (5 September 2022). "Joint east Midlands mayor plan would 'consign Leicestershire to division two'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  4. "Ben Bradley selected as Tory East Midlands mayoral candidate". BBC News. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  5. Hardwick, Tom. "Second candidate announces bid to be Conservative choice for East Midlands mayor - rivalling Mansfield MP".
  6. Pridmore, Oliver (22 May 2023). "Potential candidates emerge for first ever East Midlands Mayor". NottinghamshireLive. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  7. Neame, Katie (4 August 2023). "Former MP Claire Ward chosen as Labour candidate for East Midlands mayor". LabourList. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  8. Neame, Katie (4 August 2023). "Former MP Claire Ward chosen as Labour candidate for East Midlands mayor". LabourList | Latest UK Labour Party news, analysis and comment. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  9. Pridmore, Oliver (8 June 2023). "City Council's ex-deputy among latest to run for East Mids Mayor". NottinghamshireLive. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  10. Pridmore, Oliver (3 August 2023). "Labour officially selects former MP as East Midlands Mayor candidate". NottinghamshireLive. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  11. Topping, Andrew. "Ashfield Independents councillor announces East Midlands mayoral bid".
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