Tees Valley Mayor Elections Q&A

Conservative Ben Houchen has held the post since its inauguration in 2017. In 2021 he was re-elected in a landslide victory with 73 per cent of the vote and is now seeking a third term, with Labour’s Chris McEwan, Sally Bunce for the Green Party and Lib Dem candidate Simon Thorley contesting the position.

The mayor represents 670,000 people in the five local authorities of Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool and Darlington. Any registered voter in those five council areas can cast a vote on Thursday, May 2.

Lord Houchem (Image: Northern Echo)

What is the role of the Tees Valley Mayor?

The mayor steers the work of Tees Valley Combined Authority, set up to drive economic growth and job creation in the area with responsibilities in transport, infrastructure, skills, business investment, housing and tourism.. They are accountable to both local people and central Government.

The mayor has no responsibility for the services councils traditionally provide, concentrating on areas that have been devolved from central government. They can make some decisions independently but others involve consultation with, and approval of, all five leaders of the councils.

The mayor also chairs the boards of the three Mayoral Development Corporations in the region – South Tees Development Corporation (STDC), Hartlepool Development Corporation (HDC) and Middlesbrough Development Corporation (MDC). STDC oversees the regeneration of Teesworks while HDC and MDC were formed with the aim of transforming the town centres.

Labour candidate Chris McEwan (Image: Northern Echo)

Who is standing in the elections?

Lord Houchen was re-selected as the Conservative candidate in March 2023. His position is contested by Labour’s Chris McEwan, the deputy leader of Darlington Borough Council.

Ex-police officer Sally Bunce is running for the Green Party and Simon Thorley, a businessman from Darlington, has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate. The 2024 elections are being held under the first past the post voting system meaning voters will indicate their preference for one candidate.

Previously, the supplementary vote system was used to elect the mayor, which gave voters the opportunity to mark their first and second choice. The returning officer will publish a final list of all candidates by 4pm on April 8.

Liberal Democrat candidate Simon Thorley (Image: Northern Echo)

Key dates and ways to vote Polling day is Thursday, May 2, from 7am to 10pm and the count will take place at Thornaby Pavilion Leisure Centre the following day. People can register to vote online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or by completing a paper registration form.

The deadline to register to vote is April 16 or April 17 for a postal vote. People unable to vote in a polling station can apply for a proxy vote and ask someone to vote on their behalf – the deadline to register is 5pm on April 24.

Green Party candidate Sally Bunce (Image: Contributor)

Voters at polling stations must now bring photo ID. Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK or EEA drivers’ licence and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card.

Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo. A form of free ID, the Voter Authority Certificate, is available for those who do not have another type of accepted ID.

It’s free to apply – visit www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate