Pay me by results, says Tory mayoral candidate Street claims salary should be linked to ability to meet targets
AWEST Midlands mayoral candidate has promised to be the UK’s first politician to be paid by results.
Conservative Andy Street wants his salary to be performance-related – just as it was when he was managing director of John Lewis.
Instead of taking a flat mayoral salary Mr Street wants his pay decided by his ability to meet key targets on areas like job creation, housing and workforce skill levels.
He is one of five candidates bidding to become the first West Midlands mayor on May 4 and take responsibility transport policy, economic growth and housing.
Mr Street said: “Almost everyone has to deliver against targets in their jobs. And many people are paid on their ability to produce results. I have been used to this in John Lewis and the role of mayor should be no different.
“This role is important. It gives the West Midlands the opportunity to tackle the big issues affecting everyone, and together achieve my aim of making this region the UK’s economic powerhouse.
“The performance of the West Midlands, both in actual terms and against other comparable areas should help determine my pay.
“Simply, I want, as they say, real ‘skin in the game’ just as young people across the region have.
“People have grown tired of career politicians who make promises they fail to keep. This new way of doing things will create real accountability for delivery.”
The mayor’s salary will be decided next month when the region’s council leaders meet to consider a report by an independent panel. It is likely to be about £100,000 per year although some have suggested it could be much lower.
Mr Street proposes replacing it with a lower base salary, topped up with bonuses based on results. It would be the first time a UK politician has been paid in this way.
Green Party candidate James Burn, opposition leader of Solihull Council, has promised to donate 75 per cent of the salary to charity if elected.
“I would only accept a salary equal to the average pay of a fulltime worker in the West Midlands – that’s about £29,000 according to current figures. That’s still more than many in the region live on,” he said.
“The vast remainder of the salary – around 75 per cent – would be used to help businesses start up in the least well-off areas, or given to Midlands charities, tackling some of the most important problems we face - including things like homelessness and loneliness.”
UKIP candidate Pete Durnell has also pledged to draw a similar salary, about £30,000, if elected.
Labour candidate and frontrunner for Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, has already pledged to give 15 per cent of his salary to help the homeless if elected. ANDY Street revealed Prime Minister Theresa May personally asked him to stand.
He said David Cameron wanted him to be the candidate, but he made up his mind to stand after a personal appeal from Mrs May.
Mr Street said: “The previous Prime Minister was keen that I do it, let me be clear about that.
“There was lots of gossip about whether I was going to do it all through the first half of last year. I knew I had to wait to see the Brexit result, and then when we got the result we did, I wanted to wait to see who took over.
“So when Theresa May was appointed, she asked to see me actually, and we had an extremely constructive meeting, where she said she would absolutely ensure the party supported this election, and it was on the back of that that I said I’d do it.”