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04
Jul
Why was the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire allowed to campaign for Andy Burnham?
Over the last two weeks, Mayor David Skaith has been pictured campaigning for Andy Burnham in Makerfield and later greeting him as the would-be Prime Minister gave his first major speech.
Mr Skaith has made no secret of his backing for Mr Burnham, taking a front row seat for his speech at the People’s History Museum on June 29 and hailing it “incredible”.
The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire also backed the former Labour Greater Manchester mayor on the streets of Makerfield by knocking on doors and canvassing for him in a recent by-election.
But, the move has raised questions over how Mr Skaith, who is paid £81,300 to be the region’s mayor, can justify the political campaigning during mayoral time.
David Skaith (left) and Andy Burnham at the speech in Manchester.
The Stray Ferret asked York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, which Mr Skaith chairs, whether there were any rules against the mayor carrying out political activities when he is supposed to be carrying out day-to-day responsibilities leading the authority.
A spokesperson said:
The mayor is elected on a political mandate and, like other elected politicians, is able to participate in political activity and campaigning outside of his combined authority responsibilities. Where he does so, this is undertaken separately from combined authority business and not at the expense of the combined authority.
As an elected figurehead, engagement in wider political activity is a legitimate and expected part of public life. However, such activity is distinct from the mayor's day-to-day role leading the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.
We also asked whether the mayor’s attendance at Mr Burnham’s speech in Manchester on June 29 was sanctioned by the authority.
The speech, which was also attended by fellow northern Labour mayors Tracy Brabin, Oliver Coppard and Steve Rotheram, saw Mr Burnham pledge to create a new Downing Street team called No 10 North in Manchester as part of plans to devolve more power from Westminster.
The spokesperson told the Stray Ferret that Mr Skaith’s attendance was “entirely appropriate”.
They said:
In relation to Andy Burnham's speech in Manchester, the mayor was attending a longstanding, pre-arranged Transport for the North meeting in the city, which he attends alongside other regional mayors and council leaders. A number of those regional leaders also attended the speech.
The speech addressed matters of direct relevance and importance to the mayor's responsibilities and to the interests of York and North Yorkshire. Given the wider national context and the potential implications for transport, devolution and regional growth, attendance was entirely appropriate.
On this occasion, attendance at the speech did not incur any additional cost to York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.
The combined authority said it “cannot and does not fund or support party political election campaigning activities” and that the mayor’s political activities are undertaken separately to authority business.
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