Reform wins Hull and East Yorkshire’s inaugural mayoral election
Insurgent populist party, Reform, has added to its flurry of breakthrough victories in today’s elections by winning the contest for Mayor of the new Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Former professional boxer Luke Campbell picked up 48,491 votes, comfortably ahead of second placed Mike Ross of the Liberal Democrats who secured 37,510 votes, with Conservative candidate Anne Handley coming in third with 21,393 votes.
Labour candidate Margaret Pinder was in a distant fourth place, with 18,568 votes.
In a pre-election address to voters, Campbell, 37, stressed that he was not a career politician. He pledged he would cut out waste and improve accountability in council spending.
He added he would take back control of the bus network and fix the region’s “broken” transport system.
Luke Campbell
And he said he would push the government for more investment cash, arguing the region deserved more than £13.3m a year.
He said: “Since retiring from boxing, I have run several successful businesses, proving my ability to lead, make tough decisions, and deliver real results.”
Campbell will chair the combined authority cabinet, alongside two members from both Hull and East Riding local authorities.
The combined authority will represent more than 610,000 people living in the region.
As head of the authority, Campbell will serve for four years in the role, where he will make decisions on housing, public transport, infrastructure, economic development, business, skills and regeneration.
The mayoral position was formed after a devolution deal was approved by government last September. This deal created the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority, which brings together Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
