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06
Jun
Exclusive: Highways chief Keane Duncan leaves post
Councillor Keane Duncan has resigned as the executive member for highways at North Yorkshire Council, the Stray Ferret understands.
The Conservative’s decision comes weeks after the cost of the A59 road realignment at Kex Gill soared by £13.7 million from £68.8 million to £82.5 million.
Multiple sources have told the Stray Ferret Cllr Duncan announced his decision to colleagues last night.
The councillor, who has been given the nickname Captain Pothole, may consider challenging to become Conservative leader before the next council elections in 2027, sources suggest.
As transport chief, he had oversight of Kex Gill as well as the £12.6 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme, which is subject to a High Court challenge.
Malton-born Cllr Duncan, a former journalist at the Daily Star, has had an eventful political career for a 30-year-old.
At 19 he was selected as a Conservative candidate for election on to Ryedale District Council. The following year he was elected and at 24 he became council leader.
Pictured on the night he lost the mayoral count.
At 22, he became the youngest ever North Yorkshire county councillor and after being re-elected in May 2022 he was appointed to leader Carl Les' executive.
Cllr Duncan, whose full title was executive member for highways and transportation, road safety and cycling/active travel champion, was the most eye-catching appointment of Cllr Les’ executive because of his youth — he was a third of the age of his predecessor, Don Mackenzie.
But his political star waned when he stood as the Conservative candidate for mayor of York and North Yorkshire last year and was beaten by Labour’s David Skaith after pledging to buy and restore Scarborough’s Grand Hotel.
In an interview with the Stray Ferret two years ago, he said:
The role I have got right now has been the biggest political challenge I’ve had. We cover an area five times the size of Greater London.
Everybody has got an opinion on transport and everybody wants to express it. It is difficult to switch off because I feel very heavily the weight of responsibility that I’ve got.
But it’s my home area. North Yorkshire is where I’m born and bred and an area that I want to do everything I can to improve.
News of his resignation is expected to be announced shortly.
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