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05
May
Interview: Mayor David Skaith on the Labour leadership, being called Dick Turpin and Harrogate vs York
On May 3, 2024, Harrogate-born Labour candidate David Skaith was elected the first mayor of York and North Yorkshire.
Mr Skaith, a shopkeeper from York, was whisked away from the election count at Harrogate Convention Centre to Northallerton Football Club for a photoshoot alongside Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves in what was seen as a symbolic victory in then-Prime Minister’s Rishi Sunak’s backyard.
Now Mr Skaith is midway through his four-year term and Sir Keir faces local elections that could renew calls for his resignation.
David Skaith and Sir Keir Starmer after his mayoral election win.
Last week Kim McGuinness, Labour Mayor of the North East, said Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would make a great Prime Minister.
Does Mr Skaith agree?
Andy would be great. He’s done a fantastic job in Manchester working closely with local Labour leaders and councillors over there having that joined-up approach is why it’s been a great success over in Manchester. If Andy wants to do it, I’ve no idea. I haven’t spoken to him about it.
He understands devolution and the power of the mayor. Any government that has the likes of Andy Burnham in and around the conversation is only a positive thing.
Mr Burnham, he adds, is not currently an MP so it’s not going to happen. He adds Labour needs to do better at shouting about its achievements, such as reducing NHS waiting lists and investing in public transport, but does he think Sir Keir can survive if Labour losses mount up this week and calls to resign continue? Mr Skaith says:
“It’s going to be a really challenging week for him but that’s only a decision he can make. It’s entirely up to him.”
Transport 'mess'
Mr Skaith faces his own challenges, notably transport, which he blames on Tory-run North Yorkshire Council. He says:
“We need to remember the mess public transport has been in in North Yorkshire. The amount of miles driven by buses has been cut in half over the last 10 years so we have got to right a lot of the wrongs.”
Progress on implementing bus franchising has been slow, but he says a pilot is underway and he expects franchsing to be delivered in less than two terms.
Pothole funding
He’s also been embroiled in a row with Tory-run North Yorkshire Council over how central government highways funding is distributed between York and North Yorkshire.
Although Mr Skaith says the overall sum awarded to North Yorkshire will increase by £74 million over four years, the mayor changed the ratio slightly in York’s favour because, he said, the roads get more wear and tear.
How did he feel about Councillor Andrew Williams, a member of the Conservatives and Independents group who represents Ripon Minster and Moorside, likening him to highwayman Dick Turpin because of the change?
I couldn’t really care less what someone like him is going to call me. North Yorkshire need to realise they are getting more money than they have ever had to fix potholes.
David Skaith
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, which the mayor leads, has awarded the Harrogate district £11 million from its various funding streams, says Mr Skaith.
Many people describe the mayor as likeable but question whether he is cut out for the cut and thrust of politics and suggest he might be too nice. He replies:
“I don’t think you need to come from a political background to do this job. I came into this job wanting to make a real difference to my region.”
But does he enjoy it?
“Yeah, I do I love it. You don’t get many opportunities to really make this difference. This is genuinely making a positive difference to so many people’s lives and you can only but enjoy that.”
Winning the mayoral election in 2024.
Mr Skaith is sometimes accused of lacking a grand vision for the region. What is it?
“The big thing I stand for is putting people in communities at the heart of everything I do. Making sure people from my region are heard, which they haven’t been before.”
The most frustrating aspect of the job, he adds, is the speed of change at local authorities.
Mr Skaith has been open about his struggles with issues like men’s mental health and discussing his stammer, which has become far less noticeable. He says being open about it has given him more confidence not to worry about it.
Harrogate vs York
He was born and raised in Harrogate, his mother still lives in the town and his brother is a police officer in Harrogate, yet because he lives in York and runs a business there, he is often accused of being York-centric.
So if Harrogate played York at football, who would he support?
He replies in a flash: “Harrogate. I am from Harrogate.”
Will he stand for re-election in 2028?
“I absolutely will,” he says, although he still needs to be nominated and go through the selection process.
This week at least, however, when North Yorkshire Council leader Cllr Carl Les faces a leadership challenge from Cllr Keane Duncan and councillors up and down the country sweat over their seats at general elections, Mr Skaith can at least forget about the pressure of elections for a few days and focus on his job.
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