The Yorkshire Party’s candidate for the North Yorkshire mayoral election in 2024 has promised 2,000 households three chickens each.
Keith Tordoff, who lives in Pateley Bridge, has announced he will be the Yorkshire Party candidate to lead the North Yorkshire joint authority and has already made a list of ambitious pledges.
Mr Tordoff, 67, a former police officer who worked on the Yorkshire Ripper murders, has also been a specialist fraud investigator for banks.
Born and raised in Leeds, he is proud of his Yorkshire heritage and even brags that he ‘never goes abroad’ due to his fondness for his home county.
Having previously stood in elections to be North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, coming third in 2021, he feels he is the best candidate to lead North Yorkshire.
He said:
“Ultimately, Yorkshire ought to be brought together under one mayoral authority and if I were elected I would work with other mayors in the region to achieve that so it ends up with the best in charge of Yorkshire.”
Mr Tordoff criticised the government’s record on ‘levelling up’, adding:
“They haven’t delivered on it.
“They’ve had ample time to do it now, so it needs somebody with a bit of drive, passion and who is able to negotiate to get a better deal for Yorkshire.
“There needs to be someone, such as myself, with some honesty, integrity, and who will deliver.
“Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens aren’t going to do that.”
Nutrients from eggs
One of his policies involves poultry. Mr Tordoff explained:
“2,000 households, where suitable – we’ll provide you with three chickens; that’s 6,000 chickens.
“Those households, in a short space of time, would have eggs with all the nutrients they need.”
Read more:
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- Pateley Bridge man to stand for Yorkshire Party in mayoral election
Mr Tordoff claims it would save 100 tonnes of food waste each month and improve the health of poorer households.
His four main pledges are ‘to make North Yorkshire an economic powerhouse’, ‘improve transport links’, ‘make North Yorkshire a safer place’ and ‘make North Yorkshire a world leader in sustainability’.
Other initiatives he outlined included free public transport for those under 18-years-old, as well as free membership at boxing clubs, drama clubs, art groups and gaming rooms.
To fund these ambitions, Mr Tordoff is relying on his negotiating skills to get more money for North Yorkshire.
He has also pledged to set up a York and North Yorkshire venture fund lobbying the government for an additional investment of £25 million.
Yorkshire Party co-leader, Dr Bob Buxton, said:
“Keith is the clear alternative to the Tories in North Yorkshire.
“His experience, skills and passion make him ideally equipped to take on the complex challenges that come with being the first Mayor of North Yorkshire.
“He is a man who sees the big picture but also has the critical skills to understand the details and ensure that the solutions are the right ones.”
Zoe Metcalfe, the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner who lives in Aldborough, has announced she hopes to be selected by the Conservatives in the mayoral election.
Pateley Bridge man to stand for Yorkshire Party in mayoral electionKeith Tordoff has been selected by the Yorkshire Party as its candidate for Mayor of York and North Yorkshire in the 2024 election.
Mr Tordoff stood as an independent candidate in both 2021 North Yorkshire Police, Fire Crime Commissioner elections, finishing in third place.
He worked as a police officer, detective and specialist fraud investigator for banks, before forging a career in business in sectors ranging from retail to mail order to property development.
He currently owns the Tordoff Gallery in Pateley Bridge.
He has served as chair of the Nidderdale Chamber of Trade and chair of the Pateley Bridge Britain in Bloom group and is a patron of Dementia Forward.
Mr Tordoff was awarded the MBE in 2018 for services to business and the community.
A press release announcing his decision to stand said his priorities, as mayor, would be: to make North Yorkshire an economic powerhouse; improve transport links and connectivity, especially for rural communities; making North Yorkshire a safer place to live, work and visit and to make North Yorkshire a world leader in sustainability.
Mr Tordoff said :
“North Yorkshire deserves a strong, independent champion – someone who understands the county’s needs and aspirations, and has the background and wealth of experience to deliver on addressing them.
“I will identify problems through listening to the people and turn things around, where needed, with a practical no nonsense business-like approach, driven by my passion and love for the county.”
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Yorkshire Party co-leader, Dr Bob Buxton, said:
“Keith is the clear alternative to the Tories in North Yorkshire. His experience, skills and passion make him ideally equipped to take on the complex challenges that come with being the first mayor of North Yorkshire.
“He is a man who sees the big picture but also has the critical skills to understand the detail and ensure that the solutions are the right ones.”
Zoe Metcalfe, the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner who lives in Aldborough, has announced she will stand for the Conservatives in the mayoral election.