| Kim McGuinness | |
| Office: | Mayor of the North East |
| Term Start: | 7 May 2024 |
| Predecessor: | Jamie Driscoll (as Mayor of the North of Tyne) Tracey Dixon (as Chair of the North East Combined Authority) |
| Office1: | Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria |
| Term Start1: | 19 July 2019 |
| Predecessor1: | Vera Baird |
| Term End1: | 8 May 2024 |
| Successor1: | Susan Dungworth |
| Office2: | Member of Newcastle City Council for Lemington |
| Term Start2: | 7 May 2015 |
| Term End2: | September 2019 |
| Successor2: | Jason Smith |
| Birth Name: | Cara Kim McGuinness |
| Birth Date: | 1985 5, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Party: | Labour Co-op |
| Alma Mater: | Newcastle University (BA) |
| Deputy: | Martin Gannon |
Kim McGuinness[1] (born 29 May 1985) is a British Labour and Co-operative Party politician who was elected as the Mayor of the North East in May 2024.[2] Previously, she served as the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner between 2019 and 2024.[3] [4]
McGuinness was born in the West End of Newcastle upon Tyne. She grew up in a council house, her father was a scaffolder and her mother worked as a secretary at an insurance broker.[5] She attended Cheviot First School and Gosforth High School.[6] McGuinness was the first in her family to attend university and graduated from Newcastle University in 2006 where she studied history.[7] Prior to entering politics McGuinness worked professionally in a number of sectors including finance, universities and charities.[7]
McGuinness was elected to represent the Lemington ward on Newcastle City Council in 2015, before joining the authority's cabinet in 2016 as executive member for culture, sport and public health.[8] [9] [10]
McGuinness became the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner in a by-election on 18 July 2019, succeeding Dame Vera Baird and the acting commissioner, Ruth Durham, following Baird leaving the role to become Victims' Commissioner.[3] She retained the role following an election on 6 May 2021.[4]
McGuinness was selected as the Labour candidate for the new position of North East Mayor in July 2023.[11] [12] The election took place on 2 May 2024.[13]
In July 2023, an allegedly racist tweet came to light that had been posted by Kim McGuinness in 2011. The tweet stated "f*** off! I am not a gypsy!" In February 2024 a complaint was made by The Traveller Movement to Keir Starmer, and McGuinness apologised for what she admitted was an "offensive" remark.[14]
In May 2024 McGuinness was elected as the first North East Mayor. She won 41.3% of the vote.[15]
McGuinness lives in Northumberland with her husband David Prutton,[16] a serving Royal Air Force officer.[17]