East Midlands Mayor: What all six candidates have to say about economic development and jobs
We've spoken to all six of the region's mayoral candidates ahead of polls opening next week.
Next week, we're heading to the polls to elect the first ever regional mayor for the East Midlands.
Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire will choose who will head up the new Combined County Authority on Thursday, May 2nd.
It follows a devolution deal that was signed with the Government, to divert some decision-making powers from Westminster up to the East Midlands.
The deal will provide £1.14bn in funding, spread over 30 years.
The candidates are Frank Adlington-Stringer (Green Party), Ben Bradley (Conservatives), Alan Graves (Reform UK), Matt Relf (Independent), Helen Tamblyn-Saville (Liberal Democrats) and Claire Ward (Labour).
All six have spoken to us, outlining their priorities.
Here's what they have to say about economic development and jobs:
Frank Adlington-Stringer (Green Party)
Frank Adlington-Stringer was born in Chesterfield and is North East Derbyshire’s first-ever Green Party councillor.
We spoke with him about his plan to start a "Green industrial revolution" at Cromford Mills, near Matlock.
"I'm setting out my plans for a green industrial revolution.
"I want to set us a challenge here in the East Midlands, give us an identity and set everyone up for the UK's future economy.
"That means green grants for our businesses, that means centering our adult education around sustainable and future technologies, making sure we're ready for the digital world.
"And I've also been really ambitious from the start saying that I will end homelessness in the region.
"It is not right that there are people sleeping on our streets, they are people just like me and you.
"They've fallen foul of 15 years of Tory chaos, that has to change and we have to invest in people.
"So I'll make sure that nobody is sleeping rough and that everyone has the opportunity to get work, to get involved in our mission for a green industrial revolution and that our whole region can thrive as a result of that."
Ben Bradley (Conservative Party)
Ben Bradley was born in Derby and is the current leader of Nottinghamshire County Council and the Conservative MP for Mansfield.
We spoke to him about his plans to bring "major investment" to the region in his Mansfield constituency.
"We've got a lot going on in terms of investment into our region and economic development and unlike other candidates, I already sit on the board or am involved in all of our region's major development projects in my current role.
"Whether that's our Freeport, hundred million pound investment in investment zones, in our development corporation that can help to bring in private sector investment and map out the kind of growth and infrastructure we need around major job opportunities.
"We've delivered Step Fusion, a big clean energy project in Nottinghamshire, the biggest of its kind in Europe and we've got all sorts of similar activities around engineering, around advanced manufacturing, around construction for example in the High Peak.
"So we've got all sorts of sectors that are really really important.
"The Mayor is the conduit with business really, the one who is the salesperson to go out talk to businesses about what we can offer in our region and attract those kind of job opportunities.
"So a huge huge chance for us to deliver massively more investment, create the kind of jobs that people aspire to and make sure that young people in our region don't have to leave to go and find great careers."
Alan Graves (Reform UK)
Alan Graves became a Reform UK councillor in 2020, and was elected mayor of Derby in May 2023.
Speaking to us in Derby, he said his only priority is to abolish the position as East Midlands Mayor.
"Obviously jobs and economic development is very important.
"If we're uncompetitive then those things are affected so it's very important that we create as many jobs for people.
"For instance in Derby we've got the very last train maker, Alstom, and it's under pressure and it might close down and I think we should ensure that it carries on, so I'll be very vocal to make sure that anything that creates jobs is created."
Matt Relf (Independent)
Matt Relf has been a councillor for Ashfield District Council for almost five years.
He is the cabinet member responsible for economic regeneration.
"This is an area I've got significant experience in, both professionally and in the public sector.
"I've run my own business in the region since 2009, I've been out seeking business support, seeking investment and I know how difficult that can be because there are so many different players in this space, so many different people giving different support offerings and we need to bring all that together.
"As mayor, I would make sure the Combined Authority can be that single front door for businesses to seek support and also be shouting about the fantastic businesses that we've got in the area so that we can build a real confidence that this is a great place for investors to come and put their money.
"I'm the only candidate who sits on the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership that will be merging into the new Combined Authority and bringing the whole growth hub that is already doing business support into the Combined Authority.
"I know how it's done, I know the people are involved, I know how to move this forward so that we can thrive in the area, get businesses growing and creating more jobs."
Helen Tamblyn-Saville (Liberal Democrats)
Helen Tamblyn-Saville lives in Retford and owns a children's book shop.
She also stood in the 2019 General Election in Bassetlaw and works as a district councillor for Retford West.
"As Mayor of the East Midlands I want to help businesses transition to a new green economy by providing funding, strategic support and training to create highly skilled green jobs.
"Our area is rich in heritage but we need to start thinking about what the jobs in the future look like.
"All major decisions should be thinking about the impact on the environment and here in the East Midlands we have a real opportunity to think about a green future with green jobs.
"We also know that our town centres and city centres are struggling.
"We have empty shops, empty units and as Regional Mayor rather than working from the top down I would work with local business leaders, local councils and stakeholders to work on local solutions for their local areas in order to bring life back to our high streets and town centres."
Claire Ward (Labour Party)
Claire Ward was first elected as MP for Watford in 1997.
She moved to Nottinghamshire in 2010 and is now chair Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
"I want to back our local high streets and support our economy and to do that I want to invest in our region and bring in more investment in the private sector as well to support green industry through hydrogen, through nuclear and through fusion sectors.
"I'll establish a community development fund to support cooperatives and community-led initiatives to revitalise our high streets and our towns and I'll commit to thinking local by purchasing within our region wherever possible.
"I'll bring in businesses and trade unions to work with me to build our region's growth and I'll invest in childcare to help us to get all of our talent working and to make sure that we make the best of our region.
"I'm also going to launch a Visit East Midlands campaign so that we can not just contribute to the local economy, we can also make sure that we boost tourism and celebrate our region's heritage and the cultural and creative talent that we have here."