This will be the first election for the new Combined Mayoral Authority, created under a devolution deal signed off in September 2024, that devolves powers in areas such as transport and housing, alongside a £400mn long-term investment fund. As co-leader of the regionalist Yorkshire Party, Halstead doesn’t mince his words when discussing his views on the development, calling it “a terrible deal”.
He continues: “It’s a lot of money, but absolute pennies when you look at what we are spending it on. The Yorkshire Party is committed to devolution, so we want local people making local decisions.
“It’s a step in the right direction, but if we were in charge of the deal, it would look a lot different. I’m excited that this journey is going in this direction, but I believe if we put a Yorkshire Party representative in this position, we will be able to negotiate for more.”
A working-class perspective
During our brief conversation, it becomes clear that Halstead’s experiences as a working person permeate his vision for the region. Born in Hull, he spent six years in the army and is now an engineer and co-leader of the Yorkshire Party. That certainly stands out in an election where two of the main candidates are the leaders of the Hull and East Yorkshire councils, but Halstead says his professional background has given him a better feel for the issues that matter to the electorate.
“You can’t represent the people if you’ve been a career politician. I’m not a career politician, I’m just a man who wants to better my community,” he tells me from his home in East Yorkshire, occasionally pausing to answer his children in the background.
He says that council tax is a particular area where he feels the burden of leaders who don’t understand the needs of the public.
5% council tax in the current climate is unacceptable
Halstead believes it is unfair to increase council tax by 5% when inflation is running at 3%. If increased funding is needed, he maintains, it is more sensible to increase taxes incrementally. While the mayor will have some say over certain council levies, he won’t have the final word on the overall rate. But Halstead says he would use his role to steer council culture towards keeping any increments as low as possible.
“It’s about being honest and open and transparent with the people about what we need and what raises need to happen. I just think 5% in the current climate is absolutely unacceptable,” he explains.
More broadly, Halstead wants to improve resident’s lives by creating jobs and strengthening the local economy.
Jobs, skills and homes – improving people’s lives
Halstead’s plans for the economy focus on bringing institutions together and uniting business with education to build jobs. He proposes partnering with the private sector to generate apprenticeships ahead of business expansions so that the skills needed to fill vacancies can be fostered locally.
“It’s about having a web of thinking. A really broad picture. I think what this mayoral role will come down to is not necessarily the nitty gritty, but the big picture of how we can bring investment to this region,” he says.
Halstead also maintains that prioritising working neighbourhoods will help retain skilled people by providing them with affordable, safe communities in which to raise their families. In his opinion, the focus today is on property developments outside of cities and out of the price range of the average buyer.
“I grew up in a terraced house; there was a park at the end of the street, there was local shops, there was everything that a family could need. I could go out on the street and I could play,” he recalls.
“I want us to focus on that when we’re building houses. Real, affordable houses for working people.”
Why Rowan Halstead is running
At the heart of Halstead’s message in this campaign is that he wants the best for the region and its people.
To prospective voters he says: “I’m happy we have got a diverse group of candidates so people are hopefully able to find someone who represents them.
“Obviously I hope that’s me, but I am a firm believer in this country and the democracy we have got, so if it isn’t me, I’m not offended. Just really read up on all the candidates and vote for who you think is going to improve your life.
“If people want something different, I believe I’m offering something different.”
Voters in Hull and East Yorkshire will have their say at the polls on 1 May 2025.
