In the very first of a sequence of interviews with candidates to be the very first Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, the Stray Ferret speaks to Keith Tordoff who is standing as an independent.
Keith Tordoff is no stranger to the election scene.
The Pateley Bridge businessman stood for North Yorkshire Law enforcement, Hearth and Crime Commissioner two times and has now set his identify forward yet again for Mayor of York and North Yorkshire.
Initially standing for the Yorkshire Party, Mr Tordoff will when once again be contesting the election on Might 2 as an independent.
The Stray Ferret achieved him in Tordoff Gallery, his movie poster enterprise on Pateley Bridge Substantial Avenue which he operates along with spouse Gloria, to focus on his most recent election marketing campaign.
The 67-yr-outdated is eager to strain that the mayor really should be unbiased and that he has the qualifications for the part.
Mr Tordoff spent 20 several years as a law enforcement officer in Leeds, performing on scenarios such as that of Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire ripper. He later went into company and started the Oldest Sweet Store in the Planet in Pateley Bridge, which he marketed in March 2021.
He offers that he has not been on holiday getaway abroad for 25 yrs as North Yorkshire is a “fantastic place to live”.
But, inspite of the considerable practical experience, Mr Tordoff is standing as an independent as opposed to becoming a member of any of the founded political functions.
“I am an independent, which I assume is really essential for the reason that I believe it is a role that should be independent.
“They [the political parties] are constantly heading to try out and get what they want for their individual location. Whereas, if I was elected, I can act to get the job done with them but I can also act to perform with all the individuals from both of those communities which is what it really should be about.”
For him, the election is the past chance for an impartial to get into electrical power.
“This is the last ditch option for folks in York and North Yorkshire to have any person elected who will deliver for them.”
‘These are not flights of fancy’
Mr Tordoff is total of suggestions, although some have led to disagreements and elevated eyebrows.
He factors to his manifesto and priorities, the place he pledges to make community transportation cost-free for less than-18s to get to faculty and higher education, introduce a one ticket for frictionless journey and unlock brownfield land for 2,000 homes.
“These are not flights of fancy, these are deliverable.”
He also feels the mayor need to only have just one business office in York in buy to conserve cash, alternatively than the proposed two places of work in York and Northallerton.
But probably his most interest grabbing plan pledge has been to give 2,000 homes three absolutely free chickens.
Mr Tordoff claimed the move would aid to save 100 tonnes of food items squander each month and enhance the well being of poorer households.
He announced the plan in June past yr, when he was standing as the Yorkshire Social gathering’s mayoral prospect. But the controversy it generated led to him resigning from the bash and starting to be an unbiased.
Mr Tordoff instructed the Stray Ferret that he “100%” stood by the pledge and described it as “deliverable”.
He stated:
“Some individuals pooh poohed it. But bear in thoughts, everybody was chatting about and is still chatting about it.
“It was practically a 12 months in the past that I explained that and it evidently resonated with people today.”
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Regardless of staying up against set up political parties, Mr Tordoff remains assured men and women will vote for anything distinct this time:
“I am hoping the general public are disillusioned and there is a realisation that if we vote for these folks once again then we are going to get far more of the identical.”
The York and North Yorkshire mayor will be selected by people of the location in an election on Thursday, May well 2, 2024.
The deadline to register to vote is 11:59pm, Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
The whole record of candidates are:
- Keith Tordoff, impartial
- Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, Liberal Democrats
- Keane Duncan, Conservative Celebration
- David Skaith, Labour Party
- Kevin Foster, Inexperienced Celebration
- Paul Haslam, unbiased