Labour Victory in York and North Yorkshire Mayoralty
Labour candidate David Skaith has emerged victorious in the election to become the first-ever Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, defeating Conservative candidate Keane Duncan.
Election Results
- David Skaith secured 66,761 votes, while Keane Duncan received 51,967 votes.
- The Liberal Democrats came in third with 30,867 votes.
- Turnout for the election was 29.89 per cent.
Skaith’s Campaign Promises
David Skaith, a local business owner who operates a clothes shop in York and chairs the York High Street Forum, focused his campaign on the following pledges:
- Introducing a cost of living support fund for residents.
- Setting up a high street fund to support businesses financially and strategically.
The victory for Labour in the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, especially in traditionally Conservative-voting areas like Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s constituency of Richmond in Yorkshire, marks a significant political shift in the region.
A Labour spokesperson commented, “Keir Starmer’s Labour party is now winning in Rishi Sunak’s backyard. The Prime Minister’s own constituents have chosen Labour over the Tories.”
Notably, this win for Labour follows their success in the North East mayoralty, where Kim McGuinness secured victory with 41.3% of the vote, surpassing independent candidate Jamie Driscoll.
