Andy Street

On 29 September 2016, Street was officially selected by Conservatives to stand in the first election for Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority, which took place on 4 May 2017.[9] Street said: "[The Combined Authority] will determine how we create wealth here and what type of society the West Midlands will become. (...) Our economy is being renewed but we have much more to do to ensure everybody feels the benefit. Our mission is therefore to build the economic powerhouse of Britain in an inclusive way. That will need leadership from somebody who has a proven record, can bring people together and can represent us with passion. This election needs to go beyond traditional political loyalties and I look forward to seeking voters' support for the job ahead."[10] The following day, it was confirmed that Street would leave John Lewis at the end of October 2016.[11] He was succeeded by Paula Nickolds, who assumed the role in January 2017.[12]

In a speech at the 2016 Conservative Party conference, Street declared his support for Birmingham's bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games. He also announced that he would seek to address the "imbalance" in transportation spending that sees London receive seven times as much spending on transport infrastructure per head as the West Midlands does. Street said that fighting inequality would also be a priority, as "social challenges can only be met when everybody shares the fruits of economic progress", saying that he would draw on the lessons of Joseph Chamberlain and his own experiences with the John Lewis Partnership, which shares profits with all of its employees. He also called for a series of debates with Labour candidate Siôn Simon and Liberal Democrat candidate Beverley Nielsen.[14]

Street was endorsed by The Lord Jones of Birmingham, a businessman and crossbench peer who formerly served as Minister of State for Trade and Investment under Gordon Brown.[15][16]

Street was elected Mayor of the West Midlands on 4 May 2017 with 238,628 votes (216,280 first preferences, and 22,348 transfers) in the second round of voting, and in October of the same year was placed 82nd on commentator Iain Dale's list of 'The Top 100 Most Influential People on the Right'.[17] Upon taking office, he became entitled to the style of Mayor.[18]

Street was re-elected as Mayor on 6 May 2021 with 314,669 votes, 54% of the total votes cast after second preference votes were included.[19]

At the 2023 Conservative Party Conference, Street held a press conference on the future of the proposed Phase 2 of High Speed 2, which would have connected Manchester and Birmingham New Street. He warned that the rumoured decision to scrap the railway line would be missing "a once in a lifetime opportunity to level up", and damage the UK's international reputation for investors. He called for the Government to attract further private investment, rather than cancel the second phase.[20]

Following this, it was reported that Street was considering resigning in protest to the policy, with a spokesman saying that Street would "respond accordingly" to the policy's announcement.[21]

When Rishi Sunak announced in his conference speech that Phase 2 of HS2 would be cancelled, with its capital spend redistributed into transport projects across the regions, he said:

I say this to Andy Street, a man I have huge admiration and respect for, I know we have different views on HS2. But I also know we can work together to ensure a faster, stronger spine: quicker trains and more capacity between Birmingham and Manchester.[22]

Following Sunak's speech, Street said he was "disappointed" but that he had decided not to resign.[23]

Street has been an outspoken critic of continually-rising business rates, arguing that "property is the way retailers have made money historically and we need a system that is a reflection of the future", though he does not believe that online transaction taxes are the answer.[7] Street supported Liz Truss as Prime Minister[24] before her very short time in office.[25]