The Mayor
Who is the mayor?
The mayor, Luke Campbell, was elected after the region’s first Combined Authority Mayoral election on Thursday 1 May 2025.
How do the elections work?
Similar to elections for Parliament or Local Authorities, voters go to the polls to decide who they want to be the mayor of the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority. The Combined Authority Mayoral election works on a first past the post system (similar to a General Election) and the winner of the Combined Authority Mayoral election is the candidate who receives the highest number of votes.
How often are the mayoral elections?
The Combined Authority Mayoral election will take place every four years. There is no limit on how many terms a mayor can serve.
Why do we need a mayor?
Directly elected mayors provide visible leadership and act as a champion for regional priorities, attracting investment that creates new opportunities for the area and the people who live there. By being directly elected, the mayors are given authority to make decisions that benefit the area. As put by the Local Government Association, “The Government believes that within the context of strategic (combined) authorities, mayors should have a unique role which allows them to focus fully on devolved responsibilities.” Having an elected mayor is also an essential part of a Level 3 devolution deal, which is currently the most lucrative type of deal available to newly devolved areas. Benefits such as -
- the £400 million investment fund
- integrated transport settlement
- devolution of brownfield funding
are only available through a Mayoral Combined Authority. Neither Hull City Council nor East Riding of Yorkshire Council would be able to access these advantages on their own, or without a mayor.
What powers does the mayor have?
The mayor will provide overall leadership for HEYCA and will chair meetings of the Executive Board. The mayor will be able to make certain decisions themselves, whilst other decisions will need to be made by the Board, of which the mayor is a member. Areas where the mayor will be personally accountable will include housing and land acquisition powers to support housing regeneration, drawing up a local transport plan, and bus franchising powers. The elected mayor, chosen by residents, works closely with both councils, serving as a link to the government.
How will the mayor be held accountable?
The mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire will be chosen by the people living here, so will be directly accountable to them. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee will help the mayor and the Combined Authority, holding them to account by reviewing their decisions and activities. The government has also set out an ‘accountability framework’ for all devolved authorities in England, to make sure that they are open and accountable to the communities that they serve.
Does the mayor become the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)?
No. There are some Combined Authority areas where the mayor has taken on the PCC role, but this is in areas where the geography of that combined authority is the same as that of the police force. Because the Humberside Police force area also covers Northern Lincolnshire, the mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire is not eligible to take on that role.
Does the mayor have mayoral chains and robes?
No. The directly elected mayor leading the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority performs a different role to the ceremonial positions such as Lord Mayor of Kingston upon Hull or Chairman of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, and does not replace either of those long-standing civic dignitaries.
Where is the mayor based?
With HEYCA being in its infancy, no permanent base has yet been established for the Combined Authority or mayor’s office. Provision has been made for HEYCA’s existing team to work between Hull City Council’s Guildhall and East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s County Hall. Official HEYCA meetings and other gatherings have been held at the ergo business centre near the Humber Bridge.
What happens if a councillor or MP becomes mayor?
If a councillor becomes mayor they automatically cease to be a councillor upon election to the mayoralty, as legislation states that no person can perform both duties. MPs are permitted to become mayor and continue as a Member of Parliament, albeit some political parties have their own rules against this.