The battle to become York and North Yorkshire’s first mayor has started to heat up with independent candidate Keith Tordoff suggesting Keane Duncan will be secretly ordering fish and chips on his campervan tour of the county instead of surviving on “army-style ration packs” in the wild as claimed.

Conservative candidate Mr Duncan announced this week he is embarking on an “epic” 100-day quest in a campervan called Peggy ahead of the election on May 2.

He said he’ll be taking the vehicle around North Yorkshire to meet voters in person and to show that he’ll be a mayor for the whole county.

Mr Duncan, who is the councillor in charge of highways at North Yorkshire Council, even said he’d be eating ration packs and sleeping in the wilderness to get back to nature whilst he is away from home.

But his sceptical rival Mr Tordoff called it a “PR stunt” when speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service yesterday. He said:

Mr Tordoff unsuccessfully stood to be North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner in 2021 and during the campaign embarked on a tour of his own around North Yorkshire in a smart car meeting the electorate and promoting his bid.

The former police officer from Pateley Bridge accused Cllr Duncan of copying his idea but wished him well on his journey.

Cllr Duncan has emblazoned Peggy with his campaign slogan “Keane for Mayor”.

But the van doesn't mention the Conservative Party, which Mr Tordoff said might be deliberate due to negative perceptions of the national party and jokingly added might have invited wags to let down his tyres when he’s asleep.

He added:

Responding to Mr Tordoff’s comments, Cllr Duncan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

Who is standing to be mayor?

Read more:

• Tory mayoral candidate to spend 100 days in campervan


• Council bids to save £3.2m on free school travel in North Yorkshire