Conservative candidate Andy Street has been declared West Midlands Mayor, with the West Midlands following the pattern seen across the country today (May 8).
Liam Byrne MP took 267,626 votes and Andy Street has 314,669, including second preferences from the seven areas of the West Midlands.
Results were announced at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena (formerly the NIA) minutes ago.
Mr Street won at the second stage – after no candidates took more than 50 per cent of the votes in the first round.
Turnout for the Mayor race was 31.23 per cent while 31.02 per cent voted in the PCC election.
Re-elected mayor Andy Street. Credit: LDRS.
The victory follows a surge in Tory support in councils across the region and country, while the party also won the Hartlepool parliamentary by-election.
Gary Sambrook MP (Birmingham Northfield), said: “The campaign has been fought very hard on Andy’s plan and in every area of this region.”
He praised the Conservatives’ performance in Dudley, Sandwell and Wolverhampton and said: “It is very clear that the Conservative party’s reach and support across working class communities is now embedded in election results.”
Addressing the results for Labour across the rest of the UK, Cllr Brigid Jones, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, said it is “disappointing” but it follows a “Covid incumbency factor” where sitting parties have seen greater support.
MP Liam Byrne at an electric vehicle charging point.
Cabinet member Cllr Sharon Thompson voiced her support for Labour PCC candidate Simon Foster, saying she is “really confident” and that he can do good work for the region.
Liberal Democrat candidate Jenny Wilkinson said: “It has been really good to be able to connect with voters across the whole of the West Midlands. We put across the liberal message about freedom for everyone.”
Speaking on coming fourth after the Greens, she said: “It is disappointing of course but they have a very distinct message that’s drawn voters towards them. For us, it is a little broader than that – so a less distinct message.”
Also in the West Midlands, Labour candidate Simon Foster has stormed to victory as the West Midlands’ new Police and Crime Commissioner.
The solicitor held out over competition from Conservative candidate Jay Singh-Sohal to take over from outgoing commissioner David Jamieson (Lab).
Mr Foster won in the second round of results after voters’ second choices were taken into account – winning 301,406 ahead of 259,839 for Mr Singh-Sohal.
The result bucks the trend seen elsewhere in the region and country where Conservatives have made gains and Labour have seen losses.
