Keane Duncan has defended his campaign for Mayor of York and North Yorkshire after the Conservatives lost the election to Labour.
Mr Duncan admitted that the national political picture “inevitably” affected his race to be mayor, but said Rishi Sunak should stay on as Prime Minister.
Labour’s David Skaith won the election by 14,794 votes on a disappointing day for the Tories.
Speaking after the result at Harrogate Convention Centre, Mr Duncan was magnanimous in defeat and defended his campaign, which included ambitious pledges such as buying the Grand Hotel in Scarborough.
He said:
“I am proud that I got to stand in this election. I am proud of my campaign. I thank everyone who has supported me in every corner of York and North Yorkshire.”
When asked whether he felt he overpromised on the Grand Hotel and if he regretted the pledge, he said:
“No, I’ve focussed on the coast. I think the coast is very important.
“I’m not going to have the opportunity now to deliver on my pledges and my promises. But I feel proud of the campaign that I have been able to run.”
Mr Duncan added that he did not feel that he could have done anymore with his campaign. When asked if the national political picture affected his race to be mayor, he said:
“I think the national picture has inevitably affected this campaign.”
He added that he would stay on as a North Yorkshire councillor and said he felt Mr Sunak should remain as Prime Minister, despite the election defeat.
Read more:
- Labour’s David Skaith pledges to ‘get basics right’ as mayor
- Tense day ends in clear victory for Labour’s Harrogate-born mayor
Labour’s David Skaith won the inaugural mayoral election with 66,761 votes.
Tory candidate, Keane Duncan, came second with 51,967 votes and Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, Liberal Democrat, finished third with 30,867.
Meanwhile, Green Party candidate, Kevin Foster, won 15,188 votes and Keith Tordoff, independent, finished fifth with 13,250 votes.
Harrogate independent, Paul Haslam, won 12,370 votes.
The turnout for the York and North Yorkshire mayoral election was 30%.
