Sheffield City Region mayor election delayed until 2018

Elections for a Sheffield City Region (SCR) mayor have been postponed after the high court ruled that residents had not been properly consulted on details of the plans.

The election is set to be delayed until 2018, so that SCR can consult the public on whether Chesterfield in Derbyshire should join the combined authority, along with Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire.

According to an SCR Combined Authority statement, it was ‘not possible’ to hold the election this May and the authority is ‘working towards a mayoral election in May 2018’.

Following the announcement of the delay, groups have called for the move to be scrapped in favour of a whole Yorkshire-wide deal.

Initially South Yorkshire was to elect its own mayor this May, with former sports minister Richard Caborn and Barnsley council leader, Stephen Houghton expected to run for the nomination.

Caroline Flint, the Labour MP for the Don Valley, commented: “It’s disappointing that the deal has fallen through but maybe there is an opportunity to reflect on whether there is another way forward.

“Maybe there is a regional way to bring the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber together because if we were given the powers through devolution I think we could do a great job. With five million people it would be amazing the things we could do. There is nothing stronger than the Yorkshire brand – it’s one of the best things we have to promote our region.”