Kim McGuinness | |
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![]() McGuinness in 2025 | |
Mayor of the North East | |
Assumed office 7 May 2024 | |
Deputy | Martin Gannon |
Preceded by | Jamie Driscoll (as Mayor of the North of Tyne) Tracey Dixon (as Chair of the North East Combined Authority) |
Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria | |
In office 19 July 2019 –8 May 2024 | |
Preceded by | Vera Baird |
Succeeded by | Susan Dungworth |
Member of Newcastle City Council for Lemington | |
In office 7 May 2015 –September 2019 | |
Succeeded by | Jason Smith |
Personal details | |
Born | Cara Kim McGuinness 29 May 1985 Newcastle upon Tyne,England |
Political party | Labour Co-op |
Alma mater | Newcastle University (BA) |
Website | Official website |
Kim McGuinness [1] (born 29 May 1985) is a British Labour and Co-operative Party politician who was elected as the Mayor of the North East in May 2024. [2] Previously,she served as the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner between 2019 and 2024. [3] [4]
McGuinness was born in the West End of Newcastle upon Tyne. [5] She grew up in a council house,her father was a scaffolder and her mother worked as a secretary at an insurance broker. [6] She attended Cheviot First School and Gosforth High School. [7] McGuinness was the first in her family to attend university and graduated from Newcastle University in 2006 where she studied history. [8] Prior to entering politics McGuinness worked professionally in a number of sectors including finance,universities and charities. [8]
McGuinness was elected to represent the Lemington ward on Newcastle City Council in 2015,before joining the authority's cabinet in 2016 as executive member for culture,sport and public health. [5] [9] [10]
McGuinness became the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner in a by-election on 18 July 2019,succeeding Dame Vera Baird and the acting commissioner,Ruth Durham,following Baird leaving the role to become Victims' Commissioner. [3] She retained the role following an election on 6 May 2021. [4]
McGuinness was selected as the Labour candidate for the new position of North East Mayor in July 2023. [11] [12] The election took place on 2 May 2024. [13]
In July 2023,an allegedly racist tweet came to light that McGuinness had posted in 2011. The tweet stated "f*** off! I am not a gypsy!" In February 2024 a complaint was made by The Traveller Movement to Keir Starmer,and McGuinness apologised for the remark. [14]
In May 2024 McGuinness was elected as the first North East Mayor. She won 41.3% of the vote. [15]
McGuinness lives in Northumberland with her husband David Prutton, [16] a serving Royal Air Force officer. [17]