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The 2024 East Midlands mayoral election is due to be held on 2 May 2024 to elect the first mayor of the East Midlands. It will take place simultaneously with local elections across England and Wales.
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The 2024 East Midlands mayoral election is due to be held on 2 May 2024 to elect the first mayor of the East Midlands. It will take place simultaneously with local elections across England and Wales.
The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 introduced directly elected mayors for combined authorities. Combined authorities cover multiple local government areas. A combined authority covering Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire was first proposed in 2016. Some later proposals also included Leicestershire. Ultimately, the East Midlands Combined Authority included only Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, covering the region of Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council. During consultation, a minority of respondents supported the introduction of a mayor for the region.[1] The local authorities concerned voted to proceed with devolution plans, including the establishment of a directly elected mayor of the East Midlands, in March 2023.[2]
Some politicians in Leicestershire expressed regret at being left out of the devolution deal, which had been opposed by Leicester City Council. The Centre for Cities said that even combining Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire was "a mistake" as "they are two different counties with distinct local economic needs".[3]
The election will take place under first-past-the-post voting. Voters will be able to vote for one candidate, and the candidate with the greatest numbers of votes will become mayor of the East Midlands.
The Conservative candidate Ben Bradley, the independent candidate Matt Relf and the Labour candidate Claire Ward all said they would fund the continuation of concessions for elderly and disabled tram passengers from the mayoral budget.[4] Bradley was endorsed by the Nottingham Independents political party.[5]
The Conservative Party selected the MP for Mansfield and Nottinghamshire council leader Ben Bradley as their candidate in September 2023.[6]
The leader of Derbyshire County Council, Barry Lewis, unsuccessfully sought the Conservative nomination.[7] Lewis said he would seek to support the manufacturing industry and oppose any proposals for ultra low-emission zone schemes.[7]
Labour opened applications in May 2023.[8] There were five candidates considered.[9]
On 4 August 2023, the former MP Claire Ward was selected with 50.4% of the vote.[10] Ward promised to build new affordable homes, integrate public transport and fund "thousands of new green jobs".[11]
Nominated
Lost nomination
Not shortlisted
| Labour East Midlands mayoral candidate selection[13] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Claire Ward | 50.3% | |
| Paddy Tipping | 34.3% | |
| John Hess | 15.4% | |
The Liberal Democrats have not yet selected their candidate.[13]
Alan Graves, the mayor of Derby, who has served as a councillor since 2002 for Labour, as an independent, for the UK Independence Party, the Brexit Party and Reform UK, was announced as the Reform UK candidate for mayor. He said he would try to get the role of mayor of the East Midlands abolished.[14]
Matt Relf, an Ashfield Independents councillor, announced that he would run as an independent candidate, saying he could work with both Labour and Conservative councils.[15]
The Green Party initially said they would not stand a candidate.[13] However, in January 2024 the party invited nominations and on 10th February announced North East Derbyshire councillor Frank Adlington-Stringer as their candidate.[16]
Former reality television star and anti-vaccine activist, Rachel Elnaugh announced her intention, in February 2024, to run as an independent.[17]
