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23
Jan 2024
Tory mayoral candidate to spend 100 days in campervan
Tory mayoral candidate Keane Duncan is to spend 100 days in a campervan touring North Yorkshire in the run-up to polling day.
Mr Duncan issued a press release today saying he would be "surviving on army-style ration packs and sleeping in the wilderness" in a bid to "demonstrate he will be a mayor for every corner of England’s largest county".
He added he would continue to fulfil his duties as the Conservative councillor in charge of highways on North Yorkshire Council, and had left his job as a journalist at the Daily Star.
Mr Duncan started his tour at the county’s western-most extremity, at the last house before the border with Lancashire, near Bentham this morning (January 23).
He will aim to visit 1,000 communities by May 2 in his Peugeot Partner Tepee, nicknamed ‘Peggy’.
He said:
Keane Duncan in Harrogate
The new mayoral region of York and North Yorkshire is five times the geographical area of Greater London.
The £750 million devolution deal that led to the election of a mayor and creation of a combined authority will see some national powers devolved to North Yorkshire.
The new mayor will also take over responsibility for police and fire services from current commissioner Zoe Metcalfe.
Mr Duncan secured the Conservative nomination last year; York businessman David Skaith will stand for Labour, councillor and ex-soldier David Foster will represent the Green Party and Pateley Bridge man Keith Tordoff will stand as an independent.
The Liberal Democrats have still to reveal a candidate.
Read more:
- Mayoral election to cost more than £2 million
- York and North Yorkshire combined authority to employ 54 staff
- Looking ahead: A new mayor and combined authority for North Yorkshire
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