News / Politics
Former Labour MP Dan Norris becomes new West of England metro mayor
Dan Norris is the West of England’s new metro mayor, with the Bristol City fan beating Tory Samuel Williams into second place.
The former Labour MP, who lives in Pensford, will now preside over the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), which has secured more than £1.15bn of new funding for the region since its formation in 2017.
Norris was effusive in his praise for Labour leader Keir Starmer in his victory speech at the SS Great Britain.
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“He has unlocked this election for Labour in the West of England,” said Norris. “Without him and his skills and his determination, him being who he is, we could not have got this result.
“People were able to listen to our arguments and be persuaded by them because of Keir Starmer.”
Norris won 125,482 votes (59.5%) across the WECA region, which encompasses Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire, with Williams picking up 85,389 (40.5%).
In third place after first preference votes were cast was the Green Party’s Jerome Thomas, while another former MP, Lib Dem Stephen Williams, finished fourth.
These were the first preference votes:
– Dan Norris (Labour) 84,434
– Samuel Williams (Conservative) 72,415
– Jerome Thomas (Green) 54,919
– Stephen Williams (Lib Dem) 41,193
Just counting the first preference votes within Bristol, however, shows a strong performance from the Greens.
These are the WECA results from Bristol voters:
1. Dan Norris (Labour) 50,131
2. Jerome Thomas (Green) 38,510
3. Samuel Williams (Conservative) 28,444
4. Stephen Williams (Lib Dem) 20,053
The turnout in the WECA elections was 36.61 per cent, believed to be the highest of any combined authority in England.
Labour leader Keir Starmer joined Dan Norris on the campaign trail in Keynsham – photo: Dan Norris
Norris is only the second WECA metro mayor, replacing the Conservative Party’s Tim Bowles who stood down after serving just one term.
He has worked as an NSPCC trained child protection officer as well as running his own businesses.
“It’s a huge honour to be elected as metro mayor for an amazing part of the world that I am so proud to call home,” Norris said.
“I will show the difference an active metro mayor makes for our region.
“This role is about collaboration and I will be a metro mayor who listens carefully and works cooperatively.
“I’m determined to hit the ground running with a jobs and skills summit in my first 100 days and my Green Recovery Plan.
“I also know that the pandemic has been tough and as we build back, invest in jobs and our high streets, we must learn key lessons.
“Together we can create a society where we keep looking out for each other and value what’s truly important.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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