What each candidate had to say after Paul Bristow was elected as mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Conservative candidate Paul Bristow was elected mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough on Friday (2 May).
The former Peterborough MP won the election with 60,243 votes, beating Ryan Coogan of Reform UK, who secured 49,647 votes.
Labour’s Anna Smith was unable to succeed her party colleague Dr Nik Johnson, coming third with 42,671. Liberal Democrat Lorna Dupré was just behind, with 41,611, while Bob Ensch, of the Green Party, got 18,255 votes.
Here’s what the candidates had to say after the election result was announced at the Ross Peers Sports Centre in Soham. Mr Ensch was not present.
Paul Bristow, Conservative
The newly-elected mayor began his winner’s speech by thanking his team and his wife.
He went on: “It’s a shame that on this good day we’ve seen so many committed Conservative councillors lose their seats, but I think we can turn around and say that we’re getting Cambridgeshire and Peterborough moving.”
Mr Bristow was critical of Labour’s campaign, which focused on the fact that he owns a house in St Albans, Hertfordshire, although he lives in Wansford, near Peterborough.
“It seemed perhaps one of the most vindictive, wicked and personal elections we’ve seen in Cambridgeshire by the Labour Party. But, as a result, they came third,” he said.
He thanked outgoing mayor Dr Nik Johnson for his service. Dr Johnson decided not to stand again for health reasons.
Mr Bristow reassured his voters that he will deliver on all his pledges and signed off his speech saying: “There is lots to do and we start that work straight away.
“But first, if you don’t mind, I’m going to kiss my wife and have a drink.”
Read our interview with Mr Bristow here.
Ryan Coogan, Reform UK
Reform UK candidate Ryan Coogan congratulated Mr Bristow on his win.
He said: “Hats off to him. He beat us fair and square in this election. With Reform being second, we are the official opposition to the mayoral candidacy here in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and we will certainly be holding the manifesto to account.”
Mr Coogan thanked everyone involved in his campaign and said it was an “absolute pleasure” to take part.
He said: “Across the country, Reform is coming. Across the country, we have seen a phoenix rising and we will be here to hold all of the various Parliamentary big guns to account in the coming years. You haven’t seen the last of Reform UK.”
Anna Smith, Labour
Ms Smith, who had served as deputy mayor, also congratulated Mr Bristow on his victory as well as all the other candidates for putting themselves forward.
She also thanked the election teams across the county, her voters, her team, her husband and parents.
She said: “I’m proud of my record at the Combined Authority - helping to turn it around after a rocky start and delivering, in partnership, concrete achievements, making my contribution to so many fantastic projects, from ARU Peterborough to the Centre for Green Technology, from Chatteris Museum to Cambridge bus station, saving a central bus route, introducing new ones, keeping the £2 bus fare cap, introducing the Tiger Pass, introducing pre-9.30 travel for concessionary passes and, of course, taking our buses back under public control.”
“I would’ve liked to have seen these things through and implemented my plan for change but I will always be proud of what I have contributed.”
Lorna Dupré, Liberal Democrat
Ms Dupre began her speech thanking her partner and team.
She also thanked the residents of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who voted for her.
In a message to winner Paul Bristow, she said: “You have made a large number of very expensive promises to the population of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
“We’ll be watching carefully to see how you move forward in the coming months and years.”
She also addressed Reform UK candidate Ryan Coogan, saying they had “made a few gains, but not what they had hoped for”.
Ms Dupré stated that the first past the post system “no longer stands up as the representative system of government”.
Dr Johnson was elected at the last election in 2021 using a supplementary vote system, which meant that voters expressed a first and second choice. When the leading candidate did not get 50 per cent from first choice votes, the lowest candidate was eliminated and second choice votes were counted. That proved enough for Dr Johnson to oust the favourite, Conservative James Palmer, from the post.
Ms Dupré said that the Labour governments needs to “think again about electoral reform and a fair voting system”.
She signed off her speech saying: “Mr Bristow, good luck. You’re going to need it.”
Bob Ensch
Green party candidate Bob Ensch was not present for the speeches.
