Andy Street steps down as LEP chairman to launch mayoral bid

JOHN LEWIS boss Andy Street is to step down as chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) with immediate effect after confirming he is to seek to become the Conservative Party candidate in next year’s West Midlands mayoral election.

In a statement the GBSLEP confirmed the long-rumoured news that Mr Street has applied to be the Conservative candidate, although the Conservative Party remained tight lipped this morning.

A spokesman said: “Our candidate will be announced shortly before the start of our party conference. At our conference in Birmingham they will set out their plans to make the West Midlands an even more prosperous and successful part of the country.”

Party members will sit down on September 29 and discuss who they want to spearhead their campaign for the high profile position.

However, it is thought they will be selecting from a very short shortlist.

What the party has said is that its preferred candidate will speak from the main stage at the party conference on Sunday October 2.

The John Lewis Partnership, where Mr Street is managing director, said: “Andy has indicated to the chairman that he is interested in running for the office, but at this stage has not been formally selected. A formal process within the Conservative Party will now take place.

“Should Andy be successful in his application to be the Conservative Party candidate, he has agreed with the chairman that he should step down from his role and a further announcement will be made to confirm the succession plan for the future leadership of the John Lewis brand.”

Steve Hollis, deputy chair of GBSLEP, paid tribute to Mr Street’s work, saying “we owe a huge debt of gratitude for Andy’s leadership”.

“As the founding chair of the GBSLEP, Andy has overseen a transformational change in the GBS economy,” he said.

“It has been a privilege to work with Andy and witness the Greater Birmingham Solihull economy move from being the laggard in the UK five years ago to now being the leader across many measures.

“Andy’s passion for his home region is infectious as is the way he has brought partners together to realise our shared goals for the area.”