Graham Swift, the former deputy leader of Harrogate Borough Council, is to make a political comeback in 2027.

Mr Swift has been chosen as the Conservative candidate for Duchy and Valley Gardens at the May 2027 North Yorkshire Council elections.

Mr Swift, who represented Saltergate from 2014 before being elected in Harrogate Duchy in 2018, was one of the most influential figures in Harrogate local government during his nine years as a councillor.

However, he lost his seat to Liberal Democrat Peter Lacey in the Coppice Valley and Duchy division at the inaugural North Yorkshire Council elections in 2022. He continued to serve as a councillor until Harrogate Borough Council was abolished in 2023.

Andrew Jones, the former Harrogate and Knaresborough MP and current Conservative branch chairman, confirmed Mr Swift’s return in an interview with the Stray Ferret this week. He said:

Mr Swift was a prominent figure in the final years of Harrogate Borough Council, alongside then council leader Richard Cooper. The authority was abolished in 2023 as part of local government reorganisation.

In 2022, Mr Swift hosted private Conservative Party events attended by Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak when they were vying to become party leader. That same year, he delivered a speech welcoming delegates to Harrogate for the Local Government Association conference at Harrogate Convention Centre.

Mr Swift has maintained a low profile since his election defeat. His selection as the Conservative candidate for Duchy and Valley Gardens signals a return to local electoral politics five years after losing his council seat.

Look for our interview with Mr Jones on the Stray Ferret in the next few days.