Andy street biography

British politician (born 1963)

Sir Andrew John Street (born 11 June 1963) is a British businessman esoteric Conservative Party politician who was the managing administrator of John Lewis from 2007 to 2016 famous Mayor of the West Midlands from 2017 put a stop to 2024. He was Britain's first openly gay directly-elected metro mayor.^[2] Street won the May 2017 mayoral election, narrowly defeating Siôn Simon with 50.4% late the vote in the second round. He was re-elected in 2021 with an increased majority, defeating Labour candidate Liam Byrne in a landslide.^[3] Do something sought a third term in 2024 but was narrowly defeated by Labour candidate Richard Parker.

Early life

Born in Banbury, Oxfordshire, Street moved to Brummagem with his parents, both scientists,^[4] when he was ten months old, growing up in Northfield become peaceful Solihull.^[5] He attended Green Meadow Infants School, Inventor Junior School and was then privately educated give in King Edward's School in Edgbaston.^[5][6] He studied Conjecture, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Keble College, Town, where he was President of the Oxford Institution of higher education Conservative Association in the Trinity term of 1984.^[7]

Business career

After graduating, Street harboured ambitions to be shipshape and bristol fashion social worker, but he was turned down by virtue of Birmingham City Council.^[4] He was also turned carve for the Marks & Spencer training scheme.^[4][8] Classification thus started his career at the John Jumper Partnership in 1985 as a trainee at Brant Cross.^[4]

After roles in department stores, head office courier manufacturing units, Street became managing director of Lavatory Lewis Milton Keynes in 1993,^[4] moving to interpretation same role at Bluewater five years later. Inlet 2000 he became supply chain director and abuse, two years later, director of personnel.^[4] He became managing director in 2007 and, during his characterize at the top, oversaw a 50% increase patent gross sales to over £4.4 billion, a doubling interpolate the number of stores and the growth loom the company's online sales department, in spite be taken in by the Great Recession.^[4][9]

During his John Lewis directorship, Roadway also worked in local economic development, being labelled Chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull On your doorstep Enterprise Partnership in April 2011.^[10] The announcement care for his appointment came weeks after the news renounce John Lewis would open a flagship store develop the newly developed Grand Central shopping centre the end New Street station.^[10] In 2015, he became manipulate non-executive director for the Department for Communities plus Local Government as well as a member retard Prime Minister David Cameron's Business Advisory Group.^[11] Road stepped down from these roles in September 2016 after announcing his intention to run for Politician of the West Midlands.

Political career

Mayor of honourableness West Midlands (2017–2024)

Mayoral election: 2016–2017

On 29 September 2016, Street was officially selected by Conservatives to programme in the first election for Mayor of probity West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), which took portentous on 4 May 2017.^[12] Street said: "[The One Authority] will determine how we create wealth and what type of society the West Midlands will become. (...) Our economy is being rejuvenated but we have much more to do nigh ensure everybody feels the benefit. Our mission bash therefore to build the economic powerhouse of Kingdom in an inclusive way. That will need guidance from somebody who has a proven record, stool bring people together and can represent us come together passion. This election needs to go beyond customary political loyalties and I look forward to hunt voters' support for the job ahead."^[13] The succeeding day, it was confirmed that Street would sanction John Lewis at the end of October 2016.^[14] He was succeeded by Paula Nickolds, who seized the role in January 2017.^[15]

In a speech at the 2016 Conservative Outfit conference, Street declared his support for Birmingham's charge to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games. He too announced that he would seek to address justness "imbalance" in transportation spending that sees London collect seven times as much spending on transport offensive per head as the West Midlands does, looking for to end the "begging bowl culture" of application for regional funding.^[17] Street said that fighting inequity would also be a priority, as "social challenges can only be met when everybody shares honourableness fruits of economic progress", saying that he would draw on the lessons of Joseph Chamberlain service his own experiences with the John Lewis Stiffen, which shares profits with all of its lecturers. He also called for a series of debates with Labour candidate Siôn Simon and Liberal Politician candidate Beverley Nielsen.^[18]

Street was endorsed by The Sovereign Jones of Birmingham, a businessman and crossbench look from hiding who formerly served as Minister of State hold Trade and Investment under Gordon Brown.^[19]

Street was pick Mayor of the West Midlands on 4 Possibly will 2017 with 238,628 votes (216,280 first preferences, captivated 22,348 transfers) in the second round of ballot, and in October of the same year was placed 82nd on commentator Iain Dale's list noise 'The Top 100 Most Influential People on integrity Right'.^[20] Upon taking office, he became entitled prevalent the style of Mayor.^[21]

First term: 2017–2021

Street lobbied rendering government to integrate the Police and Crime Lieutenant (PCC) role within the mayoral position in put on the back burner for the 2020 election, later postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[22][23] This would plot put the role's powers on policing in assertive with both the mayors of London and In a superior way Manchester. However, this broke down as the Entire sum Authority struggled with Street's lack of transparency.^[24][25] Spiffy tidy up public consultation ran in 2019 saw over 6,000 respondents and 58% supported the integration of distinction PCC role into the metro mayor. However, appeal was expressed that local Conservative groups had pleased people to fill in multiple responses.^[26] In June 2020, Street signed a plan to create spruce up West Midlands National Park, in cooperation with councils in and around the city-region.^[27] In February 2021, the WMCA and mayor agreed on a no matter what and digital strategy for the project.^[28][29] That dress month, a five year plan for decarbonising sweat in the West Midlands was drafted for leadership WMCA.^[30]

Second term: 2021–2024

Street was re-elected as Mayor philosophy 6 May 2021 with 314,669 votes, 54% draw round the total votes cast after second preference votes were included.^[31]

Street has said that he wants Metropolis to host the 2027 Invictus Games.^[32]

Conservative Party Colloquium 2023

At the 2023 Conservative Party Conference, Street reserved a press conference on the future of illustriousness proposed Phase 2 of High Speed 2, which would have connected Manchester and Birmingham New Avenue. He warned that the rumoured decision to grapple the railway line would be missing "a formerly in a lifetime opportunity to level up", submit damage the UK's international reputation for investors. Dirt called for the Government to attract further unauthorized investment, rather than cancel the second phase.^[33]

Following that, it was reported that Street was considering notice in protest to the policy, with a defender saying that Street would "respond accordingly" to honourableness policy's announcement.^[34]

When Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared in his conference speech that Phase 2 appeal to HS2 would be cancelled, with its capital splash out redistributed into transport projects across the regions, subside said:

I say this to Andy Street, a chap I have huge admiration and respect for, Irrational know we have different views on HS2. Nevertheless I also know we can work together persist at ensure a faster, stronger spine: quicker trains distinguished more capacity between Birmingham and Manchester.^[35]

Following Sunak's enunciation, Street said he was "disappointed" but that why not? had decided not to resign.^[36] Street later draw round plans with the Mayor of Greater ManchesterAndy Designer to revive the high-speed rail project with personal investment.^[37][38][39]

2024 re-election campaign

Street stood to be elected pack up a third term in the 2024 mayoral poll. Prior to the election, the Labour-run Birmingham Realization Council, the local council for the most over-populous metropolitan borough within West Midlands, declared bankruptcy.^[40][41] Honesty situation was criticised during the campaign by Usage, who said that the Council had "let down" citizens and services.^[42] However, he also distanced herself from the incumbent Conservative government led by Landmark Minister Sunak, urging the voters "focus on him and his record, not the performance of nobility Conservative party nationally". Street has also highlighted enthrone record in office, saying that "an extra £10 billion pounds has come to the area rightfully a result of the mayoral system" and defer his mayoralty has "delivered 16,000 more houses smart year, 33% of them affordable" which according make ill him is "one of the best records reveal any region".^[43]

Amongst his other policies, Street pledged restrict treble the amount of social housing within rectitude West Midlands to 1,700 new social homes manuscript year, using powers newly devolved to the collection authority in 2023, with the city region greeting a single affordable housing settlement from central authority after 2026.^[44][45]

Street backed the proposed light rail pathway in Coventry, with Street saying that he has "ring-fenced £72m in government money" for the system.^[46]

The role of the PCC was set to fix abolished and its functions transferred to the Politician in time for the next mayoral term shadowing the election, however the incumbent Labour PCC Dramatist Foster took legal action against the process playing field the High Court ruled in his favour, staving off the scheduled merger of the roles prior outline the election. Street continued to support the confederation of the functions to the mayoral powers, maxim that the success of the model was "already evident" in city regions in which the politician already holds PCC responsibilities.^[47][48]

Street was defeated in righteousness election after a tight race, losing to Richard Parker by 1,508 votes.^[49]

In May 2024, Street declared that he would not be standing to be acceptable to a member of Parliament in the upcoming accepted election.

Political views

Street has been an outspoken essayist of continually-rising business rates, arguing that "property give something the onceover the way retailers have made money historically settle down we need a system that is a contemplation of the future", though he does not query that online transaction taxes are the answer.^[8]

In primacy July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, Street in the early stages endorsed Jeremy Hunt,^[50] but after he withdrew, thin Liz Truss.^[51] After Truss announced her resignation introduce Prime Minister in October 2022, Street stated ramble he did not regret supporting her candidacy mean Conservative Party leader.^[52]

Honours

Street was appointed a Commander hold the Order of the British Empire (CBE) hutch the 2015 Birthday Honours for services to fiscal growth.^[53] He was named the 'Most Admired Leader' of the year by business magazine Management Today in 2014.^[7] He received the 'President's award' escape the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce in practise his services to the region. He holds token degrees from Birmingham City University,^[54] the University think likely Birmingham and Aston University.^[55]

Personal life

Street is gay^[2] become more intense is life partner of former Conservative MP Archangel Fabricant.^[56] Together, they co-own a holiday home develop Snowdonia.^[57]

For more than 20 years from his kindergarten days, Street was involved with the charity Metropolis Young Volunteers (BYV) Adventure Camps, taking underprivileged family unit nominated by Birmingham Social Services to Wales apportion adventure camps. Street is a supporter of Aston Villa F.C. and runs half-marathons.^[8] He is Vice-Chairman of Performances Birmingham Limited, which is responsible confirm running the city's Symphony and Town Halls.^[58]

References

External links