Tories choose devo mayoral candidate

A business leader has thrown his hat in the ring – and given up his job – to become the elected mayor for Cheshire and Warrington.
Three local councils – Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington – recently backed the creation of a new combined authority, which will be headed by a mayor, selected at a vote scheduled for May 2027, (writes local democracy reporter Belinda Ryan).
Although each council will continue to operate business as usual, the new Cheshire and Warrington authority will be a separate but related organisation with a budget of £600 million over the next 30 years.
The mayor will have control over things such as transport, housing and employment and also act as the face of the Cheshire and Warrington region, similar to the way Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram do in Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region respectively.
The Conservative candidate for the post has now been named as Ben Fletcher (ITALICS pictured), who has left his role as chief finance officer at The Very Group to concentrate on his mayoral campaign, and has also held a senior position at Boots.
He said: “I know Cheshire and Warrington has the potential to punch above its weight and compete with other leading regions. But it’s going to take leadership – and proven experience to get there.
“I have sat in the boardrooms of major retailers raising investment and delivering plans. That’s why I know I can bring people together, to just get stuff done.”
The Very Group, which operates digital retailers Very and Littlewoods, said that current group finance director Ed Fry would assume the role of interim group chief financial officer following Mr Fletcher’s departure after almost six years within the business.
The company said Mr Fletcher had a “long-standing interest in politics” and wished him luck.
Robbie Feather, group CEO at The Very Group, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ben for everything he has contributed to the business and wish him the best of luck for the future. From navigating the pandemic and Brexit to being a passionate advocate of our charity partnerships with Coram Beanstalk and the National Literacy Trust, Ben has played an integral role in supporting us in our mission to help families get more out of life.”
The wheels are now in motion for the new authority, with a shadow board consisting of the leaders and deputy leaders from each of the three councils due to provide interim strategic direction until the authority itself is up and running and a mayor is ready to take the helm.
Backers say devolution will help the area push its agenda on the world and national stage. Critics say it is nothing more than costly, additional bureaucracy.