The race is on to become the next mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, with three candidates stepping forward ahead of the election on 1 May.
The winner will take the helm of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, overseeing a capital budget of £328 million and a revenue budget of £333 million over a four-year term.
With major regional projects at stake—including transport upgrades and infrastructure investment—the mayor’s role carries both political weight and a salary of £91,699.
Full List of Candidates (alphabetical order)
- Representing the Conservative Party is Paul Bristow, former MP for Peterborough. After losing his seat to Labour in 2024, Bristow is campaigning on a platform of connectivity and economic development. He has pledged to dual key A-roads and bring light rail to Cambridge. His campaign emphasises jobs, investment and long-term growth.
- Ryan Coogan is the Reform UK candidate. He has lived in Cambridgeshire for more than 35 years and on his campaign website, he says he wants to put Cambridgeshire “at the top table for investment”. He says he will oppose solar and wind farms on “prime agricultural land”.
- Lorna Dupre, standing for the Liberal Democrats, brings strong local government credentials. She leads the Lib Dem and Independent Group on East Cambridgeshire District Council and is deputy leader of the party on the county council. She promises a “greener, fairer and better connected” Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
- The Green Party has put forward Bob Ensch, a former director at Morgan Sindall Construction, he now leads the FutureIN programme, which helps young people into careers in construction. He said he has championed job opportunities for disadvantaged youth in the region.
- Labour candidate Anna Smith enters the race with significant experience as both deputy mayor of the Combined Authority and former leader of Cambridge City Council. Her pledges include repairing 100,000 potholes, maintaining the popular £1 Tiger bus pass, and launching a taskforce to tackle violence against women and girls.
Whoever wins in May will inherit not just budgets and responsibilities, but growing expectations. From fixing local transport to ensuring sustainable development, the incoming mayor will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the region.
With a diverse field of candidates offering sharply contrasting approaches, voters face a significant choice. As election day approaches, the spotlight will intensify on the policies, track records and ambitions of each contender.
