John Lewis boss ‘on verge’ of entering mayoral race

THE campaign to be the first-ever elected mayor of the West Midlands is about to get interesting as John Lewis boss Andy Street is expected to shortly confirm the rumours that he wants to become the Conservative Party’s candidate.

Mr Street, who is also the chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, is viewed as being a potentially-strong candidate because of his Birmingham roots, achievements with John Lewis and its impact on helping to transform the city, and his relationship with Government.

He was a member of the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group and is lead non-executive director for the Department for Communities and Local Government’s board, which he joined in January.

Although the Conservative Party’s selection process has not yet formally started, the candidate is expected to have been chosen in time for the party’s annual conference, which is being held in Birmingham this autumn.

The Labour Party has begun its selection process, with former MP and current MEP Sion Simon and former councillor Steve Bedser going before party members in a ballot.

The entrance of Mr Street into the race, when it is confirmed, will be of particular interest because he has not previously had a political career.

Mr Street went to King Edward’s School in Birmingham before going to Keble College, Oxford, to read politics, philosophy and economics.

After graduation, he joined John Lewis where he rose through the ranks to lead the business. He will mark 10 years as managing director next year.

In June 2015 he was awarded a CBE for services to the economy, in his roles with John Lewis and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.

The mayoral election will take place next May, in line with a number of other metro-mayor elections across the country.