2017 West Midlands mayoral election

Last updated

2017 West Midlands mayoral election
4 May 2017 2021  →
Turnout523,201 (26.7%)
  Andy Street Mayor.jpg Sion Simon.jpg
Candidate Andy Street Siôn Simon
Party Conservative Labour Co-op
1st Round vote216,280210,259
Percentage41.9%40.8%
2nd Round vote238,628234,862
Percentage50.4%49.6%
 
Candidate Beverley Nielsen Pete Durnell
Party Liberal Democrats UKIP
1st Round vote30,37829,051
Percentage5.9%5.6%
2017 West Midlands mayoral election, 2nd round.svg
2017 West Midlands mayoral election, 1st round.svg
Mayor before election

Position established

Elected Mayor

Andy Street
Conservative

The inaugural West Midlands mayoral election was held on 4 May 2017 to elect the Mayor of the West Midlands, with subsequent elections to be held every four years from May 2020. The election took place alongside five elections for English metro mayors and other local elections, and ahead of the general election on 8 June 2017.

Contents

The contest was the first election for a governing body covering the entire West Midlands since the 1981 West Midlands County Council election, the former West Midlands County Council having been dissolved in 1986. Police and crime commissioner elections had taken in 2012, 2014 and 2016 with Labour winning those contests decisively.

The election was won by Conservative Andy Street, beating Labour's Siôn Simon in the final round by 50.4% to 49.6% with a turnout of 26.7%. The result was seen as a shock in what has been considered a Labour heartland. [1]

Results

West Midlands Mayoral Election 2017
PartyCandidate1st round2nd round1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
TotalOf roundTransfersTotalOf round
Conservative Andy Street 216,28041.9%22,348238,62850.4%
​​
Labour Co-op Siôn Simon 210,25940.8%24,603234,86249.6%
​​
Liberal Democrats Beverley Nielsen 30,3785.9%
​​
UKIP Pete Durnell29,0515.6%
​​
Green James Burn24,2604.7%
​​
Communist Graham Stevenson5,6961.1%
​​
Majority3,7760.8%
Turnout 523,20126.7%
Conservative win

Background

Area covered by the mayor. West Midlands UK location map.svg
Area covered by the mayor.

In 2012, a referendum on a proposal to have an elected mayor for the city of Birmingham resulted in a 57.8% vote against. [2]

Following a devolution deal between the UK government and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), it was agreed to introduce a directly-elected mayor for the combined authority, with an initial election to be held in May 2017. The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 required a directly-elected metro mayor for combined authorities to receive additional powers from central government. [3]

The mayor would be elected by voters in the metropolitan boroughs of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton, and act as chair of the combined authority as well exercise additional powers and functions devolved from central government relating to transport and housing and planning. The WMCA would also as a result receive further powers over economic growth, adult skills funding, employment, and business support. [4]

Electoral system

Advertisement for the election at the Birmingham New Street railway station Birmingham New Street Station - St Martin's Queensway eye - West Midlands Combined Authority - The West Midlands Mayoral Election (33883383751).jpg
Advertisement for the election at the Birmingham New Street railway station

The supplementary vote system was used for the mayoral election. [5] Voters were able to express a first and second preference on their ballots. If no candidate receives 50% of valid votes cast in the first round, the two candidates with the most votes proceed to the second round while all other candidates are eliminated. Any valid second preferences of eliminated candidates are redistributed to the remaining candidates, and the candidate with the most combined votes in the second round is declared the winner.

Eligible electors are registered to vote by 13 April 2017; British, Commonwealth or European Union citizens; aged 18 or over by 4 May 2017; and resident in the seven boroughs that make up the West Midlands Combined Authority (Birmingham, Coventry Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton). [6]

On 27 April it was confirmed 1,961,153 people were eligible to vote in the mayoral election. [7]

Candidates

Candidates are required to be aged 18 or over and be a British, Commonwealth or European Union citizen. In addition they should fulfill one of the following: be registered to vote in the WMCA area; own or occupy land in the area for 12 months before their nomination; work in the WMCA for 12 months before their nomination; or have lived in the WMCA during the 12 months before their nomination. [8]

Candidates are also required to present 100 signatures of people on the electoral register, with 10 from each constituent authority, and provide a £5,000 deposit to be returned if the candidate receives more than 5% in the first round. [8]

Six candidates were successfully nominated by the deadline on 4 April 2017. [9] They were James Burn of the Green Party; Pete Durnell of UKIP; Beverley Nielson of the Liberal Democrats; Siôn Simon, who received the nominations of the Labour Party and the Co-operative Party; Graham Stevenson of the Communist Party of Britain; and Andy Street of the Conservative Party. [9]

The first mayoral debate took place at the Black Country Living Museum on 7 March 2017 [10] with five of the candidates represented. [11]

Candidate selections

Communist Party of Britain

Graham Stevenson was announced as the Communist Party of Britain's candidate on 8 March 2017. Stevenson is a former official for the T&G trade union (now Unite the Union) and sits on his party's national executive committee. [12]

Conservative Party

On 7 July 2016 it was confirmed Andy Street, the former managing director of John Lewis and former chair of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, would seek the Conservative Party's nomination for West Midlands Mayor. [13] [14] After no others came forward and a meeting of local members on 29 September, Street was announced as the party's candidate. [15] Street's endorsements include that of former CBI director Lord Digby Jones. [16]

Street defended spending up to £1 million before the regulated campaign period where spending was restricted to £130,000 in the final five weeks. [17]

Co-operative Party

The Co-operative Party nominated Siôn Simon, MEP for the West Midlands and former MP for Birmingham Erdington, as its candidate in April 2017. [9] The party has stood joint candidates with Labour since 1927.

Green Party of England and Wales

On 18 October 2016, James Burn was announced as the Green Party's candidate. Burn is a Green Party councillor for Chelmsley Wood and leader of the opposition on Solihull Council. [18] [19]

Labour Party

In January 2016, Labour's national executive committee agreed to select the party's candidate in July through a one-member-one-vote ballot. [20] It was suggested candidates for the post could include West Midlands MEP Siôn Simon, Hodge Hill MP Liam Byrne, Dudley North MP Ian Austin and Sandwell council leader Darren Cooper. [21] Edgbaston MP Gisela Stuart declined to enter. [21]

Five candidates came forward by the 10 June deadline. They were Steve Bedser, a former cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing on Birmingham City Council; Najma Hafeez, a former Birmingham city councillor and chair of City Hospital; Milkinder Jaspal, a cabinet member on Wolverhampton City Council; Siôn Simon, an MEP for the West Midlands, former MP for Birmingham Erdington and former government minister for creative industries and further education; and Mary Simons-Jones, a freelance bookseller. [22]

Bedser and Simon were shortlisted and went to a ballot among party members in Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton. [23]

On 9 August 2016 it was announced Simon had won the ballot with 2,718 votes to 1,099 for Bedser. [24]

First round
CandidateVotesPercentage
Siôn Simon 2,718
71.21%
Steve Bedser1,099
28.79%

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats announced Beverley Nielsen, a businesswoman and director of Birmingham City University, as their candidate on 7 September 2016. [25]

UK Independence Party (UKIP)

On 6 January 2017 UKIP confirmed Pete Durnell as their candidate. Durnell stood for the party in the West Midlands police and crime commissioner election in 2016. [26]

Results by local authority

Birmingham

West Midlands Mayoral Election 2017, Birmingham [27]
PartyCandidate1st round2nd round1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
TotalOf roundTransfersTotalOf round
Labour Co-op Siôn Simon 95,09846.1%10,382105,48056.5%
​​
Conservative Andy Street 73,57835.6%7,69081,26843.5%
​​
Liberal Democrats Beverley Nielsen 14,8407.2%
​​
Green James Burn9,7874.7%
​​
UKIP Pete Durnell7,5373.7%
​​
Communist Graham Stevenson2,3121.1%
​​
Majority24,212
Turnout 206,45628.6%

Coventry

West Midlands Mayoral Election 2017, Coventry [27]
PartyCandidate1st round2nd round1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
TotalOf roundTransfersTotalOf round
Labour Co-op Siôn Simon 24,33143.7%3,23627,56755.0%
​​
Conservative Andy Street 20,34536.6%2,21322,55845.0%
​​
Liberal Democrats Beverley Nielsen 3,3396.0%
​​
Green James Burn2,9845.4%
​​
UKIP Pete Durnell2,9285.3%
​​
Communist Graham Stevenson8211.5%
​​
Majority5,009
Turnout 55,65323.9

Dudley

West Midlands Mayoral Election 2017, Dudley [27]
PartyCandidate1st round2nd round1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
TotalOf roundTransfersTotalOf round
Conservative Andy Street 31,85852.2%3,30635,16463.5%
​​
Labour Co-op Siôn Simon 17,73129.0%2,44620,17736.5%
​​
UKIP Pete Durnell5,6379.2%
​​
Liberal Democrats Beverley Nielsen 2,5554.2%
​​
Green James Burn2,0963.4%
​​
Communist Graham Stevenson6231.0%
​​
Majority14,987
Turnout 61,08825.2

Sandwell

West Midlands Mayoral Election 2017, Sandwell [27]
PartyCandidate1st round2nd round1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
TotalOf roundTransfersTotalOf round
Labour Co-op Siôn Simon 29,08554.2%2,47631,56165.5%
​​
Conservative Andy Street 14,36126.8%2,26016,62134.5%
​​
UKIP Pete Durnell4,7048.8%
​​
Green James Burn2,0323.8%
​​
Liberal Democrats Beverley Nielsen 2,0293.8%
​​
Communist Graham Stevenson6721.3%
​​
Majority14,940
Turnout 53,65723.3

Solihull

West Midlands Mayoral Election 2017, Solihull [27]
PartyCandidate1st round2nd round1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
TotalOf roundTransfersTotalOf round
Conservative Andy Street 35,90367.9%2,98138,88481.3%
​​
Labour Co-op Siôn Simon 6,69512.7%2,2568,95118.7%
​​
Green James Burn4,1027.8%
​​
Liberal Democrats Beverley Nielsen 3,5786.8%
​​
UKIP Pete Durnell1,8333.5%
​​
Communist Graham Stevenson2560.5%
​​
Majority29,933
Turnout 52,87133.7

Walsall

West Midlands Mayoral Election 2017, Walsall [27]
PartyCandidate1st round2nd round1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
TotalOf roundTransfersTotalOf round
Conservative Andy Street 23,69448.9%2,18625,88058.3%
​​
Labour Co-op Siôn Simon 16,72534.5%1,81118,53641.7%
​​
UKIP Pete Durnell3,5017.2%
​​
Liberal Democrats Beverley Nielsen 2,0474.2%
​​
Green James Burn1,4653.0%
​​
Communist Graham Stevenson4420.9%
​​
Majority7,344
Turnout 48,46824.6

Wolverhampton

West Midlands Mayoral Election 2017, Wolverhampton [27]
PartyCandidate1st round2nd round1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
TotalOf roundTransfersTotalOf round
Labour Co-op Siôn Simon 20,59445.8%1,99622,59055.3%
​​
Conservative Andy Street 16,51436.7%1,71218,22644.7%
​​
UKIP Pete Durnell2,9116.5%
​​
Liberal Democrats Beverley Nielsen 1,9904.4%
​​
Green James Burn1,7944.0%
​​
Communist Graham Stevenson5701.3%
​​
Majority4,364
Turnout 45,00825.2

Related Research Articles

David Charles Jamieson is a British politician who served as the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner from 2014 to 2021. A member of the Labour Party, he was previously the Member of Parliament (MP) for Plymouth Devonport from 1992 to 2005 and a Solihull Metropolitan Borough Councillor from 2010 to 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council</span> Local authority in Sandwell, England

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, or Sandwell Council, is the local authority of the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell in the West Midlands, England. It is a metropolitan borough council and provides the majority of local government services in the borough. The council has been a member of the West Midlands Combined Authority since 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siôn Simon</span> British politician

Siôn Llewelyn Simon is a British Labour Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Erdington from 2001 to 2010 and as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the West Midlands from 2014 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liam Byrne</span> British politician (born 1970)

Liam Dominic Byrne is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North, previously Birmingham Hodge Hill, since 2004. He served in Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Cabinet from 2008 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport for West Midlands</span> Transport regulatory body in West Midlands

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is the public body responsible for co-ordinating transport services in the West Midlands metropolitan county in England. It is an executive body of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), with bus franchising and highway management powers similar to Transport for London. TfWM's policies and strategy are set by the Transport Delivery Committee of the WMCA.

Lynda Ellen Waltho is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Stourbridge from 2005 to 2010, succeeding Labour MP Debra Shipley, who had stepped down due to ill-health just days before the 2005 election was called. At the 2010 election, the Conservative candidate Margot James took the seat.

The ceremonial county of West Midlands, England, is divided into 27 parliamentary constituencies - 25 borough and 2 county constituencies, one of which crosses the boundary with Staffordshire. Each constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons. These constituencies were first implemented at the 2024 general election.

Simon Francis Murphy is a British charity executive and former politician who was a Labour Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1994 to 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council</span>

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, also known as Solihull Council, is the local authority for the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull in the West Midlands, England. It is a metropolitan borough council and provides the majority of local government services in the borough. The council has been a member of the West Midlands Combined Authority since 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Wolverhampton Council</span> Local government body in England

City of Wolverhampton Council is the local authority for the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, England. Wolverhampton has had an elected local authority since 1848, which has been reformed several times. Since 1974 the council has been a metropolitan borough council. It provides the majority of local government services in the city. The council has been a member of the West Midlands Combined Authority since 2016.

The 2014 West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner by-election was a by-election for the position of Police and Crime Commissioner in the West Midlands Police region of the United Kingdom, held on 21 August 2014. It was triggered by the death of Bob Jones, the inaugural West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, who died on 1 July 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Midlands Combined Authority</span> Combined authority in the United Kingdom

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is the combined authority for the West Midlands metropolitan county in the United Kingdom. It was established by statutory instrument under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. It is a strategic authority with powers over transport, economic development and regeneration. The authority formally came into being on 17 June 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 West Midlands Labour Party mayoral selection</span>

The West Midlands Labour Party mayoral selection of 2016 was the process by which the Labour Party selected its candidate for Mayor of the West Midlands, to stand in the mayoral election on 4 May 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Street</span> British politician (born 1963)

Sir Andrew John Street is a British businessman and Conservative Party politician who was the managing director of John Lewis from 2007 to 2016 and Mayor of the West Midlands from 2017 to 2024. He was Britain's first openly gay directly-elected metro mayor. Street won the May 2017 mayoral election, narrowly defeating Siôn Simon with 50.4% of the vote in the second round. He was re-elected in 2021 with an increased majority, defeating Labour candidate Liam Byrne in a landslide. He sought a third term in 2024 but was narrowly defeated by Labour candidate Richard Parker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayor of the West Midlands</span> Chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority

The Mayor of the West Midlands is a directly elected political post who chairs the West Midlands Combined Authority, covering the local authorities serving Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 West Midlands mayoral election</span> Election in the West Midlands

The 2021 West Midlands mayoral election was held on 6 May 2021 to elect the mayor of the West Midlands, on the same day as other local elections across England and Wales, including councillors in six of its seven boroughs and the police and crime commissioner for the West Midlands city region. This was the second election for the post, which had its first election in 2017 due to the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016. The mayor was elected using the supplementary vote system. The election was originally due to take place in May 2020, but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suzanne Webb</span> British politician (born 1966)

Suzanne Webb is a British Conservative Party politician who served as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Prime Minister Liz Truss from September to October 2022. She was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Stourbridge from 2019 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Birmingham City Council election</span> 2022 local election in Birmingham

The 2022 Birmingham City Council election took place on 5 May 2022, with all 101 council seats up for election across 37 single-member and 32 two-member wards. The election was held alongside other local elections across Great Britain and town council elections in Sutton Coldfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 West Midlands mayoral election</span> Election in the West Midlands

The 2024 West Midlands mayoral election was held on 2 May 2024 to elect the mayor of the West Midlands. The election took place on the same day as other local elections across England and Wales. Richard Parker of the Labour Party won the election, narrowly defeating incumbent Conservative mayor Andy Street, who was running for a third term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Parker (mayor)</span> British businessman and politician

Richard Parker is a British businessman and Labour politician serving as the Mayor of the West Midlands since May 2024. He is a member of the Labour and Co-operative Party. He defeated Conservative incumbent Andy Street in the 2024 West Midlands mayoral election.

References

  1. ↑ Parveen, Nazia (5 May 2017). "Andy Street elected West Midlands mayor". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  2. ↑ "Birmingham rejects elected mayor". BBC News. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  3. ↑ "Everything you need to know about metro mayors: an FAQ".
  4. ↑ "WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY DEVOLUTION AGREEMENT" (pdf). Gov.uk . Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  5. ↑ "Everything you need to know about metro mayors: an FAQ". Centre for Cities. 30 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  6. ↑ "Election 2017 – Information for Voters". Archived from the original on 9 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "BBC Local Live: Birmingham and the Black Country". BBC News. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Candidates | West Midlands Combined Authority Mayor". www.wmcaelects.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 "Candidates announced for West Midlands Combined Authority mayoral election | Birmingham News Room". birminghamnewsroom.com. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  10. ↑ "First West Midlands Mayor Debate at the Black Country Living Museum" . Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  11. ↑ "Audience Divided after West Midlands Mayor Debate" . Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  12. ↑ Elkes, Neil (8 March 2017). "Communists join the West Midlands Mayor race". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  13. ↑ Dale, Paul (7 July 2016). "Game on! Andy Street 'to seek Tory nomination' for West Midlands metro mayor". The Chamberlain Files. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  14. ↑ MacAskill, Ewen (15 April 2017). "Labour heartland under attack in metro mayor elections". The Observer. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  15. ↑ Silvera, Ian (29 September 2016). "John Lewis boss Andy Street 'very positive' as Tories select West Midlands mayor candidate". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  16. ↑ "Andy Street Endorsements". Conservative Party UK. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  17. ↑ Syal, Rajeev (1 May 2017). "Tory candidate defends spending up to £1m on West Midlands mayor campaign". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  18. ↑ "Solihull Councillor has put himself forward to become mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)". The Solihull Observer. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  19. ↑ "Green Party launch campaign for West Mids Mayor". westmidlands.greenparty.org.uk. 18 October 2016. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  20. ↑ "West Midlands mayoral election: Labour plots selection strategy". Express & Star. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  21. 1 2 "Battle to be Greater Birmingham Mayor is already becoming brutal". Birmingham Mail . 19 May 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  22. ↑ Neil Elkes (29 June 2016). "Euro-MP and ex-council social services chief to battle it out to be Labour mayor candidate". The Birmingham Post. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  23. ↑ Elkes, Neil (29 June 2016). "Euro-MP and ex-council social services chief to battle it out to be Labour mayor candidate". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  24. ↑ Dale, Paul (9 August 2016). "Sion Simon wins Labour mayor selection with 'growth, prosperity and social justice' pledge". The Chamberlain Files. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  25. ↑ "Top businesswoman Beverley Nielsen chosen as Liberal Democrat candidate for West Midlands mayor". Birmingham Mail . 7 September 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  26. ↑ "UKIP West Midlands Mayor candidate Pete Durnell: All you need to know about the nominee". Birmingham Mail . 7 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "West Midlands Combined Authority Mayor Results". West Midlands Combined Authority. 5 May 2017. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.