2024 York and North Yorkshire mayoral election explained

Election Name:York and North Yorkshire mayoral election, 2024
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Election Date:2 May 2024
Next Election:York and North Yorkshire mayoral election, 2028
Next Year:2028
Turnout:29.89%
Candidate1:David Skaith
Party1:Labour and Co-operative Party
Popular Vote1:66,761
Percentage1:35.1%
Candidate2:Keane Duncan
Party2:Conservative Party (UK)
Popular Vote2:51,967
Percentage2:27.3%
Candidate3:Felicity Cunliffe-Lister
Party3:Liberal Democrats (UK)
Popular Vote3:30,867
Percentage3:16.2%
Candidate4:Kevin Foster
Party4:Green Party of England and Wales
Popular Vote4:15,188
Percentage4:8.0%
Candidate5:Keith Tordoff
Party5:Independent
Popular Vote5:13,250
Percentage5:7.0%
Candidate6:Paul Haslam
Party6:Independent
Popular Vote6:12,370
Percentage6:6.5%
mayor
Before Election:Position established
After Election:David Skaith
After Party:Labour Co-operative

The 2024 York and North Yorkshire mayoral election was held on 2 May 2024 to elect the first mayor of York and North Yorkshire. It took place simultaneously with local elections across England and Wales and was won by the Labour candidate David Skaith.[1]

Background

The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 introduced directly elected mayors for collections of local authorities in England. A devolution deal to create the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority encompassing the unitary authority areas of the City of York and North Yorkshire was signed on 1 August 2022, coinciding with the celebration of Yorkshire Day.[2]

Electoral system

The election used first-past-the-post to elect the mayor in accordance with the Elections Act 2022. All registered electors living in York and North Yorkshire aged 18 or over on 2 May 2024 were entitled to vote in the mayoral election.[3] [4] It cost £2.2 million.[5]

Campaign

The Conservative candidate Keane Duncan said he would encourage more new-build houses to be sold under a national policy that would permanently discount their prices by up to 50% for first-time buyers.[6] He said he would spend 100 days travelling in a camper van around the area covered by the combined authority ahead of the election.[7] He said he would consider introducing bus franchising, were it to be cost effective.[8] He promised to fund two hours of free parking in all council car parks for a year.[9] Duncan has also promised to purchase the Grand Hotel in Scarbrough using mayoral funds and renovate it.[10]

David Skaith, the Labour candidate, said he would support the development of local businesses and supported a transport model similar to Andy Burnham's in Greater Manchester.[11] He has pledged to fund a cost of living recovery plan for the region, and fight for more GP and dentist appointments if elected.[12]

Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, the Liberal Democrat candidate, said she would support food banks and establish a scheme to deliver food to people unable to access them.[13] She published an election manifesto in April 2024, saying "My policies are to generate sustainable economic growth, create more affordable homes, and improve the health and wellbeing of all who live here."[14]

The independent candidate Paul Haslam said he would build houses on brownfield sites and support regenerative agriculture.[15] The independent candidate Keith Tordoff said he would cancel plans to include two offices for the combined authority in favour of a single office in York.[16] He also promised to supply free chickens to 2,000 households.[17]

Duncan and Tordoff both committed to not adding a levy to council tax to fund the combined authority.[18]

Candidates

Nominations closed on 5 April 2024 with six candidates standing for election.[19]

Conservative Party

The former Daily Star journalist, councillor and former council leader Keane Duncan, the police, fire and crime commissioner Zoë Metcalfe and the businessperson Matthew Freckelton sought the Conservative Party nomination. The party announced that Duncan had been selected in July 2023.[20]

Green Party

The Green Party selected Kevin Foster, a councillor and former soldier, as its candidate.[21]

Labour Party

Labour selected David Skaith, a Harrogate-born clothing shop owner and chair of the York High Street Forum, as its candidate.[22]

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats selected Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, the Countess of Swinton, a councillor and hotel owner, as their candidate.[23] [24]

Independents

Paul Haslam, a management consultant who had served as a councillor on Harrogate Borough Council from 2014 until its abolition in 2023 and a councillor on North Yorkshire Council since 2017, resigned from the Conservative Party to stand as an independent candidate.

Keith Tordoff, a former police officer and sweet shop owner, was selected to be the Yorkshire Party's candidate in June 2023.[25] He left the party after disagreeing with its leadership about his plan to supply thousands of free chickens.[26]

Election result

By local authority

North Yorkshire

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Labour wins York and North Yorkshire mayoral election . BBC News . 3 May 2024 . 3 May 2024.
  2. News: York and North Yorkshire devolution deal worth £540m to be signed . BBC News . 15 October 2023 . 1 August 2022 . 19 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231019092916/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-62348124 . live .
  3. Web site: Local elections 2024: When and where are they, and who can vote? . BBC News . 3 April 2024 . 19 March 2024 . 3 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403113430/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68552707 . live .
  4. Web site: Guide to the first North Yorkshire mayor election . BBC News . 3 April 2024 . 29 March 2024 . 3 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403113428/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw4z8pxrm4ro . live .
  5. Web site: Barton . Andrew . Barrett . Thomas . £2.2m price tag for York and North Yorkshire's first mayoral election . BBC News . 4 April 2024 . 16 January 2024 . 4 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240404042246/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-67987303 . live .
  6. Web site: Harrogate Advertiser. Chalmers. Graham. 1 March 2024. North Yorkshire mayoral elections candidate announces new 'Half-Price Homes' scheme to help first-time buyers. 18 March 2024. 2 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240302201754/https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/north-yorkshire-mayoral-elections-candidate-announces-new-half-price-homes-scheme-to-help-first-time-buyers-4539357. live.
  7. News: 23 January 2024 . Glenton . Kevin . Candidate for regional mayor begins 100-day campervan tour of North Yorkshire . 18 March 2024 . York Press . 4 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240204115623/https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/24069289.keane-duncan-campervan-tour-mayoral-election/ . live .
  8. News: Laver . Adam . Tory mayoral candidate for North Yorkshire Keane Duncan makes bus franchising pledge . Yorkshire Post . 4 December 2023 . 18 March 2024 . 15 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215234320/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/transport/tory-mayoral-candidate-for-north-yorkshire-keane-duncan-makes-bus-franchising-pledge-4432477 . live .
  9. Web site: Adam . Laver . 22 March 2024 . Mayor candidate pledges free parking in York and North Yorkshire – but rival criticises cost . 22 March 2024 . YorkMix . 22 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240322121647/https://yorkmix.com/mayor-candidate-pledges-free-parking-in-york-and-north-yorkshire-but-rival-criticises-cost/ . live .
  10. Web site: 10 April 2024 . Keane Duncan will buy Scarborough's Grand Hotel and 'make it grand again' . 20 April 2024 . Keane Duncan . 20 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240420125751/https://www.keane4mayor.co.uk/news/keane-duncan-will-buy-scarboroughs-grand-hotel-and-make-it-grand-again . live .
  11. Web site: 25 November 2023 . 'It's time for real change' - York business figure throws hat in the ring to be mayor . 18 March 2024 . Yahoo News . Connell. Dylan.
  12. Web site: Home . 20 April 2024 . David Skaith . 20 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240420125752/https://davidskaith.co.uk/ . live .
  13. News: 26 February 2024 . Libdem Mayoral Candidate's pledge to tackle food poverty . 18 March 2024 . Harrogate Informer . 26 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226070833/https://www.harrogate-news.co.uk/2024/02/26/libdem-mayoral-candidates-pledge-to-tackle-food-poverty/ . live .
  14. Web site: Glenton . Kevin . Felicity Cunliffe-Lister publishes election manifesto . York Press . 2 April 2024 . 1 April 2024 . 2 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240402051128/https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/24223885.lib-dem-candidate-felicity-cunliffe-lister-manifesto-pledges/ . live .
  15. News: 7 March 2024. Barrett. Harrogate Advertiser. Thomas. Harrogate councillor quits Tories to stand as independent candidate in York and North Yorkshire mayoral election. 18 March 2024. 18 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240318153605/https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/council/harrogate-councillor-quits-tories-to-stand-as-independent-candidate-in-york-and-north-yorkshire-mayoral-election-4559678. live.
  16. News: Harrogate Advertiser . Chalmers . 8 February 2024 . Graham . Pateley Bridge candidate to be powerful new North Yorks mayor calls for a single headquarters located in York . 18 March 2024 . 24 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240224211246/https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/pateley-bridge-candidate-to-be-powerful-new-north-yorks-mayor-calls-for-a-single-headquarters-located-in-york-4510750 . live .
  17. Web site: Laver . Adam . 8 June 2023 . Former Ripper detective promises free chickens if he is elected North Yorkshire mayor . 18 March 2024 . YorkMix . 3 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231003125651/https://yorkmix.com/former-ripper-detective-promises-free-chickens-if-he-is-elected-north-yorkshire-mayor/ . live .
  18. News: Chalmers . Graham . Tory seeking to be North Yorkshire's first elected mayor announces major pledge on taxes . Harrogate Advertiser . 7 February 2024 . 18 March 2024 . 24 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240224211249/https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/tory-seeking-to-be-north-yorkshires-first-elected-mayor-announces-major-pledge-on-taxes-4508777 . live .
  19. Web site: Bryson . Julia . York and North Yorkshire mayor: Six candidates stand in election . BBC News . 9 April 2024 . 6 April 2024 . 9 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240409145647/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-68748705 . live .
  20. Web site: 15 July 2023 . Conservatives choose candidate for Mayor of York and North Yorkshire . 18 March 2024. Connell . Dylan. Yahoo Finance .
  21. Web site: Barrett . Thomas . Green Party picks ex-soldier to run for mayor of York and North Yorkshire . York Mix . 30 March 2024 . 1 November 2023.
  22. News: 18 December 2023 . Lesley . Tate . Business owner is Labour's candidate for North Yorkshire Mayor . 18 March 2024 . Craven Herald . 19 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119065125/https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/23997482.business-owner-labours-candidate-north-yorkshire-mayor/ . live .
  23. Web site: Plummer . John . 5 February 2024 . Lib Dems chose Swinton Park owner to stand for North Yorks mayor . 18 March 2024 . The Stray Ferret . 18 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240318135641/https://thestrayferret.co.uk/lib-dems-chose-swinton-park-owner-to-stand-for-north-yorks-mayor/ . live .
  24. Web site: Countess of Swinton newly elected lib dem councillor and owner of the Swinton Estate . Tatler . 24 March 2023 . Natasha . Leake . 10 April 2024 . 5 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230605074401/https://www.tatler.com/article/countess-of-swinton-newly-elected-lib-dem-councillor-and-owner-of-the-swinton-estate . live .
  25. News: Chalmers . Graham . Bid for power: The first candidate striving to be elected North Yorkshire's first-ever mayor has emerged . 4 June 2023 . 18 March 2024 . 22 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230622045412/https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/bid-for-power-the-first-candidate-striving-to-be-elected-north-yorkshires-first-ever-mayor-has-emerged-4168873 . live. Harrogate Advertiser.
  26. Web site: Laver . Adam . 16 June 2023 . Yorkshire Party mayoral candidate quit after 'chicken policy disagreement' . 18 March 2024 . The Stray Ferret . 25 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230625230644/https://thestrayferret.co.uk/yorkshire-party-mayoral-candidate-quit-after-chicken-policy-disagreement/ . live .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "2024 York and North Yorkshire mayoral election".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.