In May 2024, the East Midlands has a big decision to make
For the first time, our region will finally have the opportunity to catch up with our neighbours in places like the West Midlands and Greater Manchester, and will choose a Mayor to hold a huge amount of new funding and decision making powers for the area. This Mayor will have a chance to improve the fortunes of the East Midlands, which has been the poorest region in the country for many years. Whilst those areas with regional Mayors, like Birmingham and Manchester, have forged ahead with their new powers, securing BILLIONS of pounds of extra investment, the East Midlands has been left as the lowest funded region of the country.
We have a clear choice: A conservative Mayor who will focus on investment, innovation and opportunity, or a Labour one who will implement new taxes, charges and restrictions on your life.
By selecting Ben Bradley as the area's first Mayor, and Leader of the new East Midlands Combined Authority, we will have a strong voice to represent us, a champion for E.M. PLC to draw in major new investment, and a figurehead who is ambitious to fulfil our area's potential. No other candidate can compare with Ben's experience of having built this new organisation himself over recent years, having personally negotiated the deal for these powers and funds with Government, and with his record of delivering in roles across both national and local Government.
This is a once in a generation chance to secure new funding, new investment and new direction for our region. Ben has set our clear priorities: to fix our roads, invest in and improve public transport and local infrastructure, and to deliver new business growth and opportunities for our economy. We simply have to get this right! We cannot afford to allow Labour to use these new powers to bring in ULEZ or congestion charging schemes, to attack drivers and reduce your freedoms, or to implement Mayoral tax rises. This has to be about creating MORE freedom, choice and opportunity, not 'big state' interfering in your life.
To find out more from a non-political source about what the East Midlands Combined Authority is and how it will work, click here: https://www.eastmidlandsdevolution.co.uk/
Who is Ben Bradley?
Ben was born in Derby in 1989, and grew up in Ripley and Belper, and his family is from Dronfield. He went to school in Derby, and graduated with a first-class honours degree from Nottingham Trent University in 2013. Following this, he took on several roles, including as a Landscape Gardener and a Recruitment Consultant, before venturing in to politics as a Campaign Manager for Mark Spencer, the Member of Parliament for neighbouring Sherwood prior to the 2015 General Election.
In 2015, Ben stood and was elected as a District Councillor in Hucknall, and was duly appointed as Group Leader for the Conservative Group on Ashfield District Council. He became Mr Spencer’s Parliamentary Office Manager, and in early 2017 successfully stood and was elected for Nottinghamshire County Council, again representing Hucknall North.
Ben became Member of Parliament for Mansfield in the snap General Election in June 2017 with a majority of just over 1000. Ben was re-elected in December 2019 with a hugely increased majority over 16,000 votes.
Following his successful re-election to Nottinghamshire County Council in May 2021, now representing Mansfield North, he was chosen by his Council colleagues to be the new Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council. This presents a huge opportunity to tie together local and national priorities in order to attract more change and investment for Mansfield, and for Notts.
During just over two years in these joint roles, Ben has lead from the front in bringing in major new investments to the area, including the £20bn STEP Fusion power plant investment to create a new, zero carbon power station in North Nottinghamshire. He's also directly negotiated the devolution deal with Ministers, and worked on building the new Combined Authority, alongside Leaders from Derby, Derbyshire and Nottingham.
Ben is married to Shanade, and has two young children and a dog, Dexter.
