Lib Dems Announce Candidate for East Yorkshire Mayor

The Liberal Democrats are hoping to be top of the podium next May after announcing their candidate to be the first elected mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire.

Hull City Council leader Cllr Mike Ross has been chosen, meaning the current council leaders of Hull and East Riding will go head-to-head for the mayoralty after the Conservatives selected Cllr Anne Handley last month.

Cllr Ross was unveiled as the Liberal Democrat candidate at Teamsport Go Karting in Hull and said he will stand down as council leader if he is successful in being elected as mayor.

A directly elected mayor for Hull and East Yorkshire is a direct consequence of the agreed devolution deal. The role will be elected in May 2025, when a new political body, a Combined Authority, will also be formed to work with, and hold to account, the mayor.

Asked why he was standing, Cllr Ross said:

“Having been so involved in this for a number of years, I know what just a tremendous opportunity there is that we can get out of devolution for this region. This region’s been left behind for far too long and we need to be getting the opportunities that are available for us.”

He cited his experience, including negotiations with government, as part of his pitch.

“I know that with my experience, that I’m the person that can go out there and fight for this region, and get what it deserves”,

It was put to Cllr Ross that, as one of the chief brokers of the region’s devolution deal, some residents may view it as setting up the deal to then later stand as mayor.

However, he said the decision to stand was “one that I came to relatively recently”, adding: “It was only really the summer when people came to me and said, ‘Mike, we really think you should go for it’. Until then, I thought it would be someone else. I wouldn’t have expected to put my name in the ring for selection.”

Cllr Ross was also asked how he would ensure strong pan-Humber links. “While we of course have two separate mayoral combined authorities being established, you can’t ignore the fact there are issues across the Humber. I know the south bank councils well already, I have good working relationships,” he said. He argued this would put him “in good stead”.

Meanwhile, regarding any suggestions it might be awkward to stand against East Riding Council leader Cllr Handley after they joined forces to broker the devolution deal, Cllr Ross said:

“We have a very good, professional working relationship. When it’s come to getting the devolution deal agreed, we were mature enough to put party politics aside. Undoubtedly though, when it comes to the choice of who people want to be the mayor of this region, there’ll be other things that people look at. I think the Liberal Democrats offer just what this region needs.”

Who else is standing?

Only Cllr Anne Handley for the Conservatives has been so far announced. Hull’s Labour group leader Cllr Daren Hale confirmed Labour is currently going through a process to select its candidate. East Riding Reform group leader Cllr Maria Bowtell said, “I can confirm we will be standing a candidate and I’m excited for when that’s announced.” She expected an announcement before Christmas.

What will the mayor run?

Powers over a range of areas, including transport, adult education, and boosting economic growth, are being devolved to the new mayor and combined authority.

The region will get an extra £13.3m a year for 30 years, as well as initial one-off multi-million packages to support the likes of transport, flood and coastal erosion programmes and building on brownfield.