A U-TURN by the Labour Party this week has paved the way for Dan Jarvis to become Mayor of South Yorkshire as well as MP for Barnsley Central.
The shock decision by the party this week is a reversal of its earlier position that Dan would have to stand down from Parliament if he wins the mayoral election on May 3.
Dan had always argued that performing both jobs would be a temporary solution, and that he would take no mayoral salary while still an MP. He will use the position as MP and Mayor - if elected - to develop a wider Yorkshire devolution deal with a Yorkshire mayoral election as soon as 2020.
Dan told the Chronicle this week: “I am pleased that common sense has prevailed and it’s been recognised that this election is taking place under exceptional circumstances; where we are about to elect a mayor with few powers and no real budget.”
The devolution process, which was due to bring £30m a year to the Sheffield City Region, stalled after councils in north Derbyshire pulled out of the proposal to be part of the deal, and as a result Barnsley and Doncaster Councils decided to investigate a Yorkshire wide deal instead.
“This is not like Greater Manchester or the West Midlands,” said Dan. “There is no consensus amongst the four South Yorkshire local authorities on how to proceed, and 18 out of the 20 local authorities across Yorkshire want a different devolution agreement altogether.
“From the start I have been clear about the basis of my candidacy and the reasons for it. I’ve stepped forward in good faith to try and bring the constituent parts of South Yorkshire together, agree a consensus that allows us to draw down the maximum amount of powers and money to invest in our region over the next two years, but also to ensure that a wider Yorkshire devolution deal has the best chance of succeeding.
“I am extremely grateful for the incredible loyalty from people locally who recognise that what I am doing is working hard to make sure that the people of Barnsley and South Yorkshire don’t miss out on the opportunities that devolution can bring.”
The stand-off began in the dying days of the selection process last month after Labour Party members had been asked to choose their candidate for the election. The party’s ruling National Executive Committee, which had already approved Dan’s bid to be the candidate and put him on the shortlist, decided Labour MPs could not have more than one elected position at the same time.
Only last week the NEC was still insisting Dan would have to stand down if elected mayor.
But on Tuesday a Labour spokesman said the party endorsed Dan as its candidate adding ‘issues’ over his candidacy had been ‘resolved’ and that Dan would not have to stand down from Parliament.
Barnsley Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said: “We welcome the decision of the party. Common sense has prevailed. We have the right candidate, not only to do the best job for Barnsley and for South Yorkshire, but to move us towards a wider Yorkshire devolution deal, which is what people in Barnsley want.”
The election takes place on May 3. Nominations for candidates close today and the deadline to register to vote is April 17.
