Mayor of Mansfield

The Mayor of Mansfield is the directly elected executive mayor of the district of Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, England. A new appointment was created from 2002 following moves made by a Mansfield-based businessman to change the governance of Mansfield after a public referendum.^[2]

Mayor of Mansfield
Incumbent Andy Abrahams since 6 May 2019
Style	Executive Mayor
Member of	Mansfield Labour Group
Appointer	Electorate of Mansfield
Term length	Four years
Salary	£49,377.04 (Special responsibility allowance) + £7935.96 (associated expenses) 2022/23[1]
Website	Meet the Mayor

Andy Abrahams was elected on 3 May 2019 by two votes from sitting incumbent Kate Allsop after two recounts of the second-preference votes.^[3]

The incumbent from 2002 to May 2015 was Tony Egginton, succeeded by his fellow Mansfield Independent Forum party member Kate Allsop,^[4][5] who stood against Egginton in 2002 as a Conservative.

From the 2015 booklet issued to all households having registered voters:^[6]

An elected Mayor is different to a ceremonial Mayor or Leader of the council as they are elected by the people of Mansfield district.

It is the job of the Mayor to represent the council and its residents, make key decisions on policies, services and how the council spends its money.

The Mayor is supported by a Cabinet of councillors who help him or her develop and implement these policies.

History

Establishment

The role of elected mayor was created following a public referendum on 2 May 2002. The referendum was the culmination of a campaign led by local businessman Stewart Rickersey to have a directly elected mayor for the district.^[2] The inaugural election was scheduled for 17 October 2002. Prior to the referendum Mansfield District Council was governed by a leader and cabinet system, in which a leader of the council was elected indirectly from the largest group elected to the council. Labour councillor Jim Hawkins had been leader of the council from its creation in 1974;^[7] he did not stand for election as mayor, with Labour's candidate being the deputy leader of the council, Lorna Carter.^[8]

Mayor of Mansfield Referendum
2 May 2002 ^[9]

Choice	Votes	%
Elected Mayor	8,972	55
Cabinet System	7,350	45
Total votes	16,327	100.00

2002-2015: Tony Egginton

Tony Egginton was Mayor of Mansfield from October 2002 until retirement in May 2015, being replaced at scheduled elections by a fellow candidate for the Mansfield Independent Forum political party, Kate Allsop. Much was said of the first Executive Mayor, but during his time in office, Mansfield struggled with local land development and many projects across the region faltered.^{[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]}

Egginton (in office 2002–2015) was criticised by some councillors and residents for placing too much focus on self-publicity,^{[18][19][20][21]} as opposed to publicity for the town. The issue was raised again after his prominent role in the homecoming ceremony for swimmer Rebecca Adlington after her Gold Medal successes at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.^[22]

Election results

2002

Mansfield Mayoral Election 17 October 2002 [23][24]
Party		Candidate	1st round		2nd round			1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
			Total	Of round	Transfers	Total	Of round
	Independent	Tony Egginton	4,150	29.6%	1,801	5,951	52.6%	​​
	Labour	Lorna Carter	4,773	34.0%	590	5,363	47.4%	​​
	Conservative	Kate Allsop	3,351	23.9%				​​
	Liberal Democrats	Phil Smith	958	6.8%				​​
	Green	Mike Comerford	811	5.8%				​​
Turnout			14,043
	Independent win

2007

Mansfield Mayoral Election 3 May 2007 [25]
Party		Candidate	1st round		2nd round			1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
			Total	Of round	Transfers	Total	Of round
	Mansfield Independent	Tony Egginton	12,015	36.7%	1,705	13,720	61.0%	​​
	Labour	Alan Meale	8,129	30.8%	655	8,784	39.0%	​​
	Conservative	Aaron Beattie	2,770	10.5%				​​
	Liberal Democrats	Philip Burman	1,944	7.4%				​​
	Green	Mary Button	1,489	5.6%				​​
Turnout			26,383	34.2
	Mansfield Independent hold

2011

The 2011 election was third direct election for the mayoralty of Mansfield. The sitting mayor, Tony Egginton, successfully defended his position, which he first won in 2002. On 5 May 2011 he was elected for the third time, winning in the second round of voting with the narrow majority of 67 over the Labour candidate Stephen Yemm.^[26][27]

Mansfield Mayoral Election 5 May 2011 [28]
Party		Candidate	1st round		2nd round			1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
			Total	Of round	Transfers	Total	Of round
	Mansfield Independent	Tony Egginton	10,901	37.6%	1,779	12,680	50.1%	​​
	Labour	Stephen Yemm	11,732	40.4%	881	12,613	49.9%	​​
	UKIP	David Hamilton	2,390	8.2%				​​
	Conservative	Vic Bobo	2,192	7.6%				​​
	Liberal Democrats	Anna Marie Ellis	1,813	6.3%				​​
Turnout			29,028
	Mansfield Independent hold

2015

The 2015 election was fourth direct election for the mayoralty of Mansfield. The sitting mayor, Tony Egginton, had previously announced his intention to retire.^[29] On 7 May 2015 the candidates were former Labour-member turned Independent Phil Shields, Labour's Martin Lee and Mansfield Independent Forum's Kate Allsop, who after the second round of voting won from Martin Lee with a considerable majority.

Mansfield Mayoral Election 7 May 2015 [5]
Party		Candidate	1st round		2nd round			1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
			Total	Of round	Transfers	Total	Of round
	Mansfield Independent	Kate Allsop	17,604	37.94%	4,996	22,600	53.4%	​​
	Labour	Martin Lee	17,562	37.85%	2,158	19,720	46.6%	​​
	Independent	Philip Shields	9,672	20.84%				​​
Turnout			46,402
	Mansfield Independent hold

2019

The 2019 election took place on 2 May 2019.^[30] The candidates were Incumbent Mayor Kate Allsop from the Mansfield Independent Forum (MIF), Conservative perennial candidate George Jabbour, and District and County Councillor Steve Garner, formerly with MIF, standing as an independent.^[31][32][33] In late March Mansfield Labour group selected a third candidate in former teacher and civil engineer Andy Abrahams, following the suspension of Cllr Sean McCallum and resignation of Paul Bradshaw.^[34] In March 2019, 2015 Mayoral Candidate and former District Councillor Philip Shields announced his intention to run in 2019.^[35]

Mansfield Mayoral Election 2 May 2019 [5]
Party		Candidate	1st round		2nd round			1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
			Total	Of round	Transfers	Total	Of round
	Labour	Andy Abrahams	6,681	29.18%	1,249	7,930	50.01%	​​
	Mansfield Independent	Kate Allsop	5,860	24.84%	2,068	7,928	49.99%	​​
	Independent	Steve Garner	4,827	20.47%				​​
	Conservative	George Jabbour	3,592	15.23%				​​
	Independent	Philip Shields	2,422	10.27%				​​
Turnout			23,582	29.8%
	Labour gain from Mansfield Independent

2023

The 2023 mayoral election took place on 4 May, 2023.^[36] Final candidates declared in early April were Andy Abrahams (Labour), Mick Barton (Mansfield Independents), Andre Camilleri (Conservative), Karen Seymour (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) and Julie Margaret Tasker-Love-Birks (Independent).^[37][38] Both the Conservative and Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidates' campaigns included potentially seeking to abolish the position of executive mayor, subject to a successful public referendum.^[39][40]

Labour's Andy Abrahams was re-elected with a significant margin of over 4,000 votes, in contrast with his previous win by two votes.^[41]

The voting system was first past the post – changing from the supplementary vote system used previously.^[42]

Mansfield Mayoral Election 2023

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Andy Abrahams	9,987	45.1%	15.9
	Conservative	Andre Camilleri	5,832	26.3%	11.1
	Mansfield Independent	Mick Barton	4,992	22.5%	2.3
	Independent	Julie Tasker-Love-Birks	936	4.2%	NEW
	TUSC	Karen Seymour	420	1.9%	NEW
Turnout			22,167	27.7%	2.1
	Labour hold		Swing

See also

• Mansfield District Council area
• Mansfield (UK Parliament constituency)

References

1. Mansfield mayoral candidate vows to axe role if elected Chad, 20 January 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023
2. Mansfield businessman to make changes Mansfield Chad, local newspaper, July 2001 Retrieved 2 December 2014
3. Labour wins Mayoral election by just two votes Chad (Mansfield newspaper) 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019
4. "Voters snub parties in mayor polls". BBC News. 18 October 2002.
5. "Mansfield Council - Mayoral election results". Mansfield District Council. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
6. Mansfield Mayoral Election, April 2015. Published by Ruth Marlow, Returning Officer, Mansfield District Council. Accessed 22 May 2015
7. "Councillors: What they claimed". Nottingham Evening Post. 20 July 1974. p. 5. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
8. Hetherington, Peter (19 October 2002). "Fringe candidates win mayor elections". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
9. "More regions say yes to electing a mayor". guardian.co.uk. London. 3 May 2002. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
10. "Private developers have acquired an option on the former Courtaulds factory, on Belvedere Street". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. January 2001. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
11. "Land at Belvedere Street. Application to Extend the Time Limit for Implementing Outline Planning Permission". Mansfield District Council Online Planning – Details. Mansfield District Council. October 2012. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
12. "Two streets to be demolished in massive redevelopment". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. April 2002. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
13. "Mayor's pledge over new Pleasley Estate". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. September 2004. Retrieved 20 December 2013. MANSFIELD mayor Tony Egginton has promised residents of Pleasley Hill that work on the area's new housing estate will begin within the next 18 months. The controversial proposals to flatten around 180 houses on Hillmoor Street, Clarence Street and Chesterfield Road North to make way for a brand new estate were outlined at a public meeting
14. "Buildings are 'deadly threat". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. 2005. Retrieved 19 December 2013. Fire chiefs have issued a stark warning about Mansfield's growing list of derelict buildings — they pose a deadly threat to lives and cost taxpayers money
15. "Video: Demolition work at Pleasley Hill housing development". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. November 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2013. Demolition of terraced houses on a key gateway to Mansfield is nearing completion after the council finally re-located all of the residents. Nearly 200 properties are being pulled down to make way for a modern housing complex at Pleasley Hill, off Chesterfield Road North
16. "Living on the street of shame". BBC Inside Out East Midlands. British Broadcasting Corporation. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013. Mansfield District Council says its plans for improvements have been hit by the recession, but claims a future scheme will help recovery
17. "Legal issues causing Pleasley Hill housing delay". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. January 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014. Delays in a multi-million pound re-development of Pleasley Hill are being caused by legal issues, a leading councillor has confirmed
18. "Mansfield mayor Tony Egginton under fire for cost of newspaper column". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. July 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2014. ...an 'inappropriate' use of money...weekly 'More from the Mayor' piece in Chad should be abandoned so its £10,500 annual cost can go towards services. Said Labour group leader Martin Lee: "Having looked at the column over a period of time, it's apparent that rather than informing readers of what the council does, it's more about promoting him as an individual"
19. "Historic third term for mayor". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. 11 May 2011. pp. 1 and 3. 'Mr Egginton defeated Mr Yemm by just 67 votes...' [Egginton stated] 'It's a big victory and from my footballing prowess in the past, that's the best hat-trick I have ever scored.'
20. "Getting hitched: head to Mansfield Museum!". Mansfield District Council. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013. If you're planning on tying the knot and looking for inspiration for your special day; head down to Mansfield Museum on Saturday 4 April for a Wedding Fayre.... Executive Mayor, Tony Egginton, who [is] donating his wedding album for the exhibition, commented: "I would encourage anyone planning a wedding to come along to this Wedding Fayre."
21. "'Bling' Mansfield mayor banned from wearing chains of office". BBC News. Nottinghamshire: British Broadcasting Corporation. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
22. Hess, John (16 August 2013). "Mayoral chains ban defended by Labour". BBC News UK Politics. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 December 2013. When local Olympic golden girl Rebecca Adlington had an open-top bus homecoming after the Beijing games, mayor Egginton's chains added to the golden glow
23. "Mayor election goes to second vote". Chad.co.uk. 18 October 2002. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
24. "Former newsagent is new mayor". BBC News. 18 October 2002. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
25. "Local and Mayoral elections 2007" (PDF). house of Commons library. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
26. "ELECTION 2011: Egginton Elected For Third Term". mansfield103.co.uk.
27. "Labour select Stephen Yemm as Mansfield's Mayoral Candidate". East Midlands Labour. 22 January 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
28. "Mansfield Council - Mayoral election results". Mansfield Borough Council. 6 May 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
29. Hucknall Despatch 19 November 2013 Retrieved 8 May 2015
30. Electoral services, Mansfield District Council (22 October 2014). "Mayoral election". www.mansfield.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
31. Councillors resign from Mansfield Independent Forum Mansfield Chad, 5 October 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
32. Stephen Garner – Councillor details/Party history Nottinghamshire County Council. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
33. Who is in the running to be Mansfield’s next mayor? Mansfield Chad, 6 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
34. "Labour Select Andy Abrahams as third Mayoral Candidate". Mansfield Chad. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
35. "Philip Shields for Mayor facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
36. 2023 Mayoral Election - District Council elections - Parish Council elections Mansfield District Council. Retrieved 16 March 2023
37. Row between Mansfield's Mayor and MP over £20million London flats spend Nottinghamshire Live, 15 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023
38. Full list of candidates confirmed for Mansfield District Council elections and mayoral poll Notts TV, 6 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023
39. Mansfield mayoral candidate vows to axe role if elected Chad, 20 January, 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023
40. A Mansfield and North Nottinghamshire Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidate has joined the race to be mayor of Mansfield Chad, 14 March, 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023
41. Labour's Andy Abrahams re-elected as Mansfield's executive mayor Chad, 5 April, 2023. Retrieved 5 April, 2023
42. Changes to the voting system for mayoral and PCC elections The Electoral Commission, 2 February 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023