Shortlist row delays Labour mayoral vote process
Jarvis and Mayoral manoeuvres
THE SENDING-OUT of ballots to Labour members to vote for their preferred Sheffield City Region Mayor candidate has been delayed amid a row over the decision not to shortlist former Minister Richard Caborn for the role.
Mr Caborn, a former Sheffield MP and Sports Minister, says he was “surprised and disappointed” to be told last week that he had not been shortlisted, with Barnsley MP Dan Jarvis and Sheffield city councillor Ben Curran preferred by Labour officials.
Former British Army Major Mr Jarvis yesterday published his proposed policy agenda, which includes proposals to bring bus provision back into public ownership and supporting the appointment of a female deputy mayor.
Ballot papers were supposed to be sent out yesterday so that Labour members in South Yorkshire could choose their preferred candidate, with a decision due next month ahead of the election in May.
But this will not now happen until Monday after Labour officials were challenged over the shortlisting process. A spokesman said: “While there is a legal consideration of this situation ongoing, we are not able to comment.”
In a statement, Mr Caborn said: “As stated, I was surprised and disappointed at the Yorkshire Regional Labour Party’s decision to deprive South Yorkshire Labour Party members from having their say on whether I could represent them as the Labour candidate for this important position.
“A number of fellow Labour Party members have agreed and since sought to challenge this decision, raising concerns that it was unfair and undemocratic.
“I shall not be pursuing this matter legally, as I do not wish to bring the party into further disrepute. However, I will be pushing this matter through the political channels open to me, to ensure a fair and democratic process for future party members.”
Yesterday, Dan Jarvis published details of his policy plans in areas such as creating a 21stcentury workforce, improving housing and the environment and fighting poverty and inequality. Mr Jarvis said that as well as campaigning for a wider Yorkshire devolution deal, his priorities would be to negotiate with the Government to get the Sheffield City Region the best possible deal in terms of powers and funding.
He said he would focus on attracting new investment and well-paid jobs to South Yorkshire and ensuring people in the county have the skills and training to do them.
EVEN THOUGH Dan Jarvis hopes to be the first – and last – elected mayor of the Sheffield City Region because he believes a countywide devolution deal will ultimately be reached and render redundant this new role, his newly published manifesto highlights the depth, and breadth, of the opportunities that will exist when Yorkshire starts shaping its own future.
His personal blueprint, entitled A Co-operative Community’ recognises the importance of public service, and the need for Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster to heal recent rifts over devolution before establishing how they, and the rest of the country, can come together under the One Yorkshire umbrella and ensure that this region is never again the poor relation.
It’s to be commended. Although it will be up to Labour members to endorse Mr Jarvis once a row over former Sports Minister Richard Caborn’s exclusion from the shortlist is reconciled, the Barnsley MP’s 30-page prospectus offers more detail than some parties at general elections. It even includes a commitment to appoint a female deputy mayor to ensure that all sections of society are represented.
Yet, while there are sceptics who believe that Sheffield City Region won’t receive sufficient funding to make the most of its new policy powers, Mr Jarvis clearly believes it is possible to pay public-sector workers a living wage of £8.45 an hour while setting Sheffield City Region Employers’ Charter to encourage private businesses to tackle issues like the gender pay gap. Not only is the former soldier demonstrating his abundant leadership qualities, but he’s also showing down the gauntlet to the rest of Yorkshire and showing the level of change that could be implemented if and when the dynamics of this debate finally shifts to policy.