Latest news with #LukeCampbell
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Reform mayor outlines his position on green energy
The new mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire has said he would always put the region before party politics. Asked during a meeting of the combined authority's executive board about his position on green energy, Reform UK's Luke Campbell said: "I represent the people of this region, and if that can create local jobs and help local businesses that is what I will do." Campbell also told the meeting that all types of energy – including nuclear and hydrogen power – should be considered. Reform UK previously said it would impose taxes on the renewable energy sector under its plans to scrap the country's net-zero target. In February, deputy leader Richard Tice claimed net-zero policies were to blame for higher energy bills and deindustrialisation, adding that renewable energy was a "massive con". Campbell previously said he did not think net-zero was achievable. However, in answer to a question from a member of the public at Wednesday's meeting, the former Olympic gold medallist boxer said: "I have consistently supported the region in green energy for local business, creating local jobs. "I will keep on that same track – I was brought in by the people of this region." At the meeting, the board approved a bid to enter into a funding agreement with the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and bid for up to £1.6m for public sector renewable energy projects, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The meeting was attended by Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, and Anne Handley, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Campbell described them as "two very good, strong leaders" who were "ready to fight for this region", adding: "Including myself, you've got the third one." As head of the combined authority, Campbell is responsible for housing, public transport, infrastructure, economic development, business, skills and regeneration. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Renewables leaders urge mayors to back industry Reform UK sets out plan to tax renewable energy Reform's Luke Campbell elected East Yorkshire mayor Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Hull and East Yorks mayor outlines his position on green energy
The new mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire has said he would always put the region before party during a meeting of the combined authority's executive board about his position on green energy, Reform UK's Luke Campbell said: "I represent the people of this region, and if that can create local jobs and help local businesses that is what I will do."Campbell also told the meeting that all types of energy – including nuclear and hydrogen power – should be UK previously said it would impose taxes on the renewable energy sector under its plans to scrap the country's net-zero target. In February, deputy leader Richard Tice claimed net-zero policies were to blame for higher energy bills and deindustrialisation, adding that renewable energy was a "massive con".Campbell previously said he did not think net-zero was in answer to a question from a member of the public at Wednesday's meeting, the former Olympic gold medallist boxer said: "I have consistently supported the region in green energy for local business, creating local jobs."I will keep on that same track – I was brought in by the people of this region."At the meeting, the board approved a bid to enter into a funding agreement with the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and bid for up to £1.6m for public sector renewable energy projects, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The meeting was attended by Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, and Anne Handley, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire described them as "two very good, strong leaders" who were "ready to fight for this region", adding: "Including myself, you've got the third one."As head of the combined authority, Campbell is responsible for housing, public transport, infrastructure, economic development, business, skills and regeneration. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Nigel leans Left and hits the bullseye
Nigel Farage is finally a contender. How do I know? The press is playing nice. Could you be prime minister, asked a newspaper? 'History suggests no,' he replied, ' circumstances suggest yes.' The optics say: happy days are here again! Nigel has a quarter of a million members; he's on 30 per cent plus in the polls. He was flanked at this swanky press conference by two new mayors, Andrea Jenkyns in a psychedelic dress and Luke Campbell, a boxer, who looked ready to thump anyone who mentioned Rupert Lowe. He's the kind of old fashioned British stud one rarely sees in this effeminate age of yoga and Tai chi. The only whiff of the orient on that stage was Hai Karate. So Nigel, standing between a frock and a hard case, launched into an act worthy of the late Jim Bowen. 'Rachel from accounts' is now 'Rachel from complaints'. Ed Miliband is 'away with the fairies'. Robert Jenrick: he's lost weight, got a new suit, 'perhaps he's even had his teeth done'. As for the PM, 'I hold no personal malice' for a man who is 'dismal, uninspiring, disconnected, unpatriotic' and 'pointless' (and apart from that, a wonderful human being). Keir's 'veering off, Left and Right', which is ironic given Reform is now accused of doing the same. Keir used to be a Corbynite; Nigel used to be a Thatcherite. Today he told us he'd lift the two child benefit cap and return the winter fuel allowance, prompting accusations of inconsistency from online intellectuals with a 2:1 in politics (worth every penny). But, said Nigel, 'there is absolutely no contradiction' between being the party 'of workers and entrepreneurs' – and you know what? He's right. OK, so his numbers don't completely add up. Neither do the Treasury's; neither do mine (every time I put on a light, that's one less child I can put through college). What he's realised is that with faith in the state gone and hope for the future lost, politics is no longer Right vs Left but plebs vs patricians, and you've got to identify yourself with the larger half. Kemi fiddles while Rome burns Kemi chose to go quiet; wait for the economy to collapse and voters to dribble back. But all the while she is fiddling with policy groups, Nigel is out there, setting fire to Rome – and it's working. Starmer has challenged Nigel to a debate: Nigel accepts! He suggests they meet in 'a working man's club' over a 'few beers with the lads'. Assuming Reform sets the rules – likely given Keir's skills at negotiation – the debate will climax in a game of darts. First prize: the keys to No10 and a Bullseye speed boat moored on the pavement. There's so much to laugh at, what's to hate? A journalist meekly asked if it's true that Reform ran an advert accusing Anas Sarwar, Labour leader in Scotland, of saying he would 'prioritise the Pakistani community'. Nigel gleefully rolled the ad to prove critics wrong – but it showed Sarwar saying nothing of the sort, confirming that his words had been distorted. In the street outside, dogs heard a whistle and began barking. Inside, the hacks politely let the subject go. I guess it's a bit 2010s to bang on about racism.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Reform UK's new mayors take centre stage: Nigel Farage's troops join other regional leaders for talks with Angela Rayner... as Deputy PM warns 'you have to deliver'
Reform UK's newly-elected mayors joined other regional leaders in London today for talks with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the Greater Lincolnshire mayor, and Luke Campbell, the Hull and East Yorkshire mayor, both attended the meeting alongside 12 other mayors. It was the first time the Reform politicians had attended Ms Rayner's 'mayoral council' since their stunning election victories at the beginning of this month. Dame Andrea is a former Tory MP and ex-education minister who defected to Reform in November last year. She secured a return to frontline politics by beating her former party by more than 40,000 votes to win the Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty for Nigel Farage 's outfit. Hull-born Mr Campbell is a former professional boxer who won gold for Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics. He was elected Hull and East Yorkshire mayor with a majority of almost 11,000 votes on 1 May. At today's meeting at Lancaster House, Ms Rayner warned Dame Andrea, Mr Campbell and other regional mayors they had to 'deliver' for local voters in their roles. Both Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire are newly-created combined authorities. According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government, the Deputy PM told local leaders they must be held to account as they take back control of decision-making. She urged them to deliver on matters closest to voters' hearts and play their part in the Labour Government's 'Plan for Change'. Ms Rayner also stressed that, with increased power and resources, there would be increased responsibility and expectations for all mayors to deliver real results. She said: 'We are ripping up the long-standing 'Whitehall knows best' rhetoric that has for too long stifled growth with a 'one size fits all' approach. 'That's why we are driving forward deeper, strategic devolution, so mayors can make decisions that will actually deliver for their communities. 'Deeper devolution isn't about empty headline-grabbing promises, but doing the hard yards to make meaningful improvements to the day to day lives of working people in line with our Plan for Change.'
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Humber renewables leaders urge Reform UK mayors to back industry
Representatives of the Humber's renewable energy industry have issued a plea to the region's new mayors to "come and talk to us and understand us". There is concern the political views of Dame Andrea Jenkyns and Luke Campbell could put jobs and the industry at risk. Both mayors, who represent Reform UK, have criticised the government's policies on renewable energy and its target of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Hannah Damary-Wilson from Specialist Wind Services in Grimsby said it would be a "travesty" if the town's "thriving industry" was not supported by its mayor, while David Laister of Humber Marine and Renewables said it was "vital" the mayors engaged with the sector. Ms Damary-Wilson said she was concerned local jobs and opportunities could be lost. "When our mayor Andrea Jenkyns bandies about slogans like 'net zero madness', it's important to remember that it isn't just about hitting net zero policies, it's about developing energy independence."Ms Damary-Wilson said the economic fortunes of the region were heavily dependent on renewable energy."It's about providing skilled opportunities to a community that has, by and large, been abandoned," she said. In the last 20 years, the renewable energy industry has seen significant expansion around the Humber estuary. The Siemens Gamesa wind turbine blade factory in Hull now employs more than 1,600 people. Grimsby specialises in support services for offshore industries and is the main port serving the world's largest offshore wind farm. The UK's offshore wind industries have benefited from government net zero funding as it tries to reduce carbon emissions and create green jobs, most recently £300m from Great British Energy. In a BBC debate prior to being elected, Campbell, the mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, said he felt "half and half" when it came to supporting net zero and the renewable energy sector. "I don't think net zero is achievable but listen, forget party politics, if it's creating jobs in this region, I'll put our people first," he said. However, Campbell's Reform UK party takes a tougher stance and wants to scrap net zero policies and tax renewable energyDame Andrea, the Greater Lincolnshire mayor, has described the government's approach to renewable energy as "nut zero" and said she would drive forward plans for fracking in the county. She said she "absolutely" supported Reform UK's plans for a windfall tax on renewables and would be "shining a light of scrutiny" on the Humber's renewable industry. Industries connected to the government's net zero ambitions are continuing to see government funding and private sector Mr Laister called for the two new mayors to engage with the sector. "I would urge them to listen and to talk and to understand the various elements of the wider renewables industry," he said. "All that's been developed in the last 20 years, we don't want to see that lost or stalled."Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
