Ex-Peterborough MP Announces Mayoral Candidacy for 2025

An ex-Member of Parliament is set to contest the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayoral election next year as the Conservative Party’s nominee. Paul Bristow served as the representative for Peterborough on behalf of the Tories starting in 2019, until he was defeated by Labour’s Andrew Pakes in the general election in July, losing his parliamentary seat by a margin of 118 votes. Bristow stated his ambition to unseat the incumbent Labour Mayor Nik Johnson, who has led the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority since 2021. His campaign will concentrate on enhancing road and rail infrastructure and attracting employment, capital, and economic expansion to the area. “I have the campaigning record to win and I know what I want to achieve,” Bristow declared. He added, “Different parts of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have a wide range of opportunities, and we need someone with the skills to be able to pull them all together.“ Bristow concluded, “This election is an opportunity to have a mayor who matters and gets result for local people across the area.” According to the Conservatives, he secured his nomination as the Tory mayoral candidate through a selection process involving party members throughout the combined authority’s jurisdiction. During his tenure as an MP, he was dismissed from his position as a ministerial assistant following his advocacy for a ceasefire in Gaza. He also championed issues such as illegal waste dumping and the decline of prominent retail outlets on high streets. Established in 2017, the combined authority collaborates with the seven local district, county, and unitary councils, as well as with various business organizations and academic institutions. Its mandate encompasses the supervision of transport and digital connectivity infrastructure, workforce development, economic expansion, and housing policy and supply. Mayor Johnson confirmed his intention to seek re-election during an interview on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire earlier in the current month. Stay updated on Peterborough news via BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.