Nottingham Labour congratulates Claire Ward and Gary Godden for their election to East Midlands Combined County Authority Mayor and Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner respectively.
We look forward to working with Claire and Gary and we know that they will both help Nottingham achieve its aspirations, while ensuring that the city is safe, welcoming and green. Hopefully we will be able to work with both of them and a Labour government shortly.
Claire will bring her wealth of experience in both government and running a major hospital trust in the East Midlands to make sure that the East Midlands and Nottingham can make up for the years of neglect under the Conservative government.
She will deliver much-needed new homes across the region, which will help reduce homelessness. She will help protect Nottingham City Transport and make bus travel across the region more affordable with comprehensive networks, as well as fixing potholes. She will bring more investment into the region, especially green investment, helping us work towards Carbon Neutral 2028.
Greener investment will also mean more jobs and more opportunities to learn new skills and provide skilled work for many in the region. Finally, she will put the region on the map, increasing tourism which will benefit the amazing heritage sites we have in the city like Nottingham Castle and Wollaton Hall.
As Police and Crime Commissioner, Gary Godden will bring back increased local policing and visible police presence on the streets and through local hubs. Nottingham Labour understand the importance of this; it is why for many years we protected and ensured a strong Community Protection service.
As a former police officer, Gary will restore confidence in policing in Nottinghamshire – the confidence lost under Caroline Henry, as Police and Crime Commissioner who didn’t follow the law herself, seeing Nottinghamshire Police put into special measures.
The election of both Claire and Gary has shown that Nottingham and the East Midlands region is sick and tired of the Conservative Party. We have shown that the party in government is no longer fit for purpose, they do not represent the needs, hopes and aspirations of Nottingham and the country at large. Rishi Sunak must see that the writing is on the wall and call a general election as soon as possible, so that a Labour government can bring back hope and progress to the UK.