Why I'm standing to be your Mayor of Cumbria
When I was thinking about why I’m standing to become the first Mayor of Cumbria, I found myself reflecting on a simple question: what would I say to a 16-year-old who asked me what they needed to do if they wanted to be Mayor one day?
My answer would be simple: understand Cumbria.
Not from behind a desk, but from the ground up.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working across many of the sectors that make Cumbria what it is today.
I understand tourism and hospitality. I can produce sixty covers from a busy restaurant kitchen and turn around an eleven-bedroom hotel in a matter of hours.
I understand agriculture. I can lamb a sheep, milk a cow – and a goat – drive a tractor, and throw up a wall gap.
I understand planning, land management and development. I spent seven years advising and representing landowners, and for the past four years I’ve sat on the planning committee of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
I understand public transport. I’ve been running a bus service for the last eleven years.
I even understand construction. I can throw a mix in a cement mixer, although I should confess there are at least two gable ends in Cumbria that bear witness to the fact that my pointing skills leave a lot to be desired!
Most importantly, I understand how infrastructure, investment and partnership working can transform places. I understand how public and private investment can be brought together to create outcomes that neither could achieve alone.
And above all, I understand Cumbria – its people, its places, its challenges and its opportunities.
That understanding shapes my priorities as Mayor.
At the heart of my vision is transport and infrastructure. If people cannot get to work, access education, reach healthcare, or move goods efficiently around the county, every other ambition becomes harder to achieve.
Infrastructure is not an end in itself. It is the foundation upon which we build opportunity.
That is why my next priority is skills. We need a workforce that is ready for the jobs of today and the industries of tomorrow. Whether it is advanced manufacturing, clean energy, construction, hospitality, agriculture or digital technology, Cumbria must be equipped to develop, attract and retain talent.
And that brings me to housing.
Without the right homes, Cumbria cannot thrive.
I regularly meet residents who are working hard, doing everything right, but still cannot access a home that meets their needs. Many would dearly love to get onto the property ladder, yet current models are often financially out of reach.
At the same time, employers tell me they struggle to recruit because prospective employees simply cannot find suitable accommodation. These are not just seasonal or entry-level roles. We are talking about teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers and skilled professionals who are essential to our communities and our economy.
As Mayor, I want to champion a more diverse housing market. That means creating opportunities for smaller starter and introductory homes while maintaining the high standards of design and quality that Cumbria deserves.
Growth should never mean poor-quality development.
Our homes should reflect the character of our communities, respect our landscapes, and be energy efficient so that residents benefit from lower running costs and greater resilience in the future.
Housing is just one part of a much bigger picture.
Across Cumbria, we are investing in roads, schools, town centres, energy infrastructure and transport networks. We must strengthen partnerships between the public and private sectors to unlock investment and accelerate delivery.
We need vibrant high streets, thriving communities and better connectivity across the county. We also need to be ambitious about projects such as improvements to the Cumbria Coast Line, which remains critical to economic growth and opportunity across West Cumbria.
These partnerships must provide value for taxpayers while remaining attractive to investors and developers. That balance is essential if we are to deliver at the pace and scale Cumbria requires.
Finally, none of this can come at the expense of the environment.
My approach is straightforward: looking after the environment is not something we do instead of everything else; it is something we do alongside everything else.
A successful Cumbria must be prosperous, connected and sustainable.
We must reduce carbon emissions, support biodiversity, protect the landscapes that define our county and recognise the important role that nature plays in our health and wellbeing.
The challenge facing the next Mayor is not choosing between growth and protection. It is demonstrating that we can achieve both.
Cumbria has world-class businesses, exceptional landscapes, ambitious communities and extraordinary potential. With the right leadership, strong partnerships and a relentless focus on delivery, we can unlock that potential.
My promise as Mayor is simple: practical leadership, rooted in real-world experience, focused on delivering the homes, infrastructure, skills and opportunities that Cumbria needs to succeed.
