Conservatives fire the starting gun in North Yorkshire Mayoral race

Despite the looming prospect of three by-elections on Thursday and further potential headaches in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire, the Conservative Party can at least take some solace in having selected its candidate for the new role of Mayor of North Yorkshire & York well in advance of next May's poll.

I was one of around 200 party members who filed into a hotel conference room on Friday evening to hear from the three shortlisted candidates. All three acquitted themselves well but ultimately there was a clear winner, with Cllr Keane Duncan winning with over 50% of the vote in the first round.

In the spirit of full disclosure - I supported Keane's candidacy and look forward to continuing to do so in the months ahead. But what can we expect from his campaign in terms of both style and policy commitments?

He describes himself as a working class lad from Malton with a strong track record of winning elections, having previously served as Leader of Ryedale District Council. He is currently driving forward major infrastructure projects including the ￡42m Transforming Cities Fund initiatives in Harrogate, Selby and Skipton, alongside the ￡69m realignment of the A59 as Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport for North Yorkshire Council. This focus on major projects is likely to continue if elected as Mayor next year, with specific commitments to push for the dualling of the A64 and introduce an integrated bus network to improve intraregional connectivity similar to both Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.

Other eye-catching policies include a commitment to building Britain's first Rural Powerhouse to Level Up the whole of the region, attract private investment and boost skills in growth sectors. He has also talked of "unleashing responsible development", fast-tracking redevelopment on brownfield land and regenerating communities, whilst protecting precious countryside.

Coupled with ambitious policies is an awareness of the financial restraints that will face all of the public sector in the coming years. He has already committed to matching the policy of current Conservative Mayors Andy Street and Ben Houchen by not introducing a Mayoral precept in an effort to reduce the tax burden on residents. At the same time, he will also look to negotiate an improved devolution settlement with government, looking specifically at the trailblazer deals agreed with Greater Manchester and the West Midlands earlier this year for inspiration.

The campaign has barely begun but Keane has already set out a broad and considered agenda for the region. The challenge ahead is to now sell his vision to a diverse electorate, ranging from bustling York to coastal Scarborough and the rural Yorkshire Dales. A gruelling campaign awaits but the early signs suggest he is up for the fight.?