Mayor Luke Campbell: ‘Green energy jobs before party politics’
‘REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE’: Mayor Luke Campbell with Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority interim monitoring officer Lisa Dixon
By Angus Young
Hull and East Yorkshire Mayor Luke Campbell says he will put local green energy jobs and businesses ahead of party politics.
Chairing his first executive board meeting of the combined authority as mayor, he was put on the spot over the issue by retired social services manager Ed Washer.
In a section of the agenda reserved for questions from members of the public, Mr Washer asked if there would be any conflict between the mayor’s stated commitment to support the region’s green energy sector and his party Reform UK’s opposition to net zero policies.
Mr Campbell said: “I have consistently supported the region in green energy business and for creating jobs, and I will keep on that track.
“I was brought into this by the people of the region, and I will represent them. If I can create local jobs and help local businesses that is what I will do.
“I have been very vocal in stating that I represent this region, and I put it first ahead of party politics. I will always put this first over anything.”
EXECUTIVE BOARD: Attendees before the meeting of the combined authority
Twenty four hours earlier, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage pledged to “scrap net zero” if his party won the next General Election, with Mr Campbell sitting next to him at a London press conference.
However, during the combined authority meeting the mayor appeared to distance himself from Reform UK’s policy.
In one of the executive board’s first key decisions, he supported a £1.6m funding bid for a series of solar panel projects on public buildings and land in both Hull and East Yorkshire. A final decision on the bid by the government’s new renewable energy investment body Great British Energy is expected in the next few weeks,
If given the go-ahead, the projects include installing rooftop solar panels alongside battery storage units at eight council buildings and seven community centres in Hull, a separate solar and battery storage installation programme involving new car ports at nine council sites in the East Riding and the extension of a solar farm at the council-own South Cliff holiday park in Bridlington.
Talking about his role as mayor, Mr Campbell added: “I stand for everyone. We are a diverse area but my reputation is on the line here and I have got to stand up for everybody.”
After the meeting, Mr Washer said: “He gave a very fair and honest answer to my question. I just hope he sticks to it.”