Andy Street re-elected as West Midlands mayor
Andy Street has been re-elected to serve a second term as mayor of the West Midlands.
The Conservative candidate defeated Hodge Hill Labour MP Liam Byrne by 47, 043 votes.
The vote went to a second round due to neither candidate securing 50 per cent of first preference votes.
Mr Street secured 314, 669 votes and Mr Byrne secured 267, 626 votes.
Green party candidate Steve Caudwell received 35, 559 votes, Liberal Democrat candidate Jenny Wilkinson received 21, 836 votes and Reform UK candidate Pete Durnell received 13, 568 votes.
The overall turnout for the mayoral election was 31.23 per cent, up compared to the 26.7 per cent turnout in the first mayoral race held in 2017.
Before being elected mayor in 2017, Mr Street was boss of retailer John Lewis for more than a decade. He also led the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership as chairman from 2011 to 2016.
Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), said: “We congratulate Andy on his re-election as West Midlands mayor - it 's been a hard fought campaign which has taken place in the most extraordinary circumstances.
“Having worked closely with Andy and the senior team at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) for a number of years, the Chamber look forward to building on that spirit of collaboration and ensuring that the voice of business is central to the mayor 's plans for revitalising the region.
“During the election campaign, the Chamber worked to get businesses ' needs front and centre on candidates ' agendas with our manifesto, produced with and for our members: Rebounding for Business: Vision for the West Midlands Mayor.
“It was great to see Andy back a number of the actions we called for around getting the region back on track as we emerge from the pandemic, green growth opportunities and maximising the impact of two once in a generation opportunities: HS2 and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“Between Brexit and COVID-19 it has been quite the year for the business community to put it mildly.
“As a Chamber we stand ready to work with the mayor and ensure that the West Midlands emerges from the pandemic ready to drive ahead on jobs, investment and innovation, re-establishing our place in the country and the world. ”
The results of several metropolitan council elections in the West Midlands have also been revealed, which include Coventry (Labour hold), Dudley (Conservative gain), Sandwell (Labour hold), Solihull (Conservative hold), Walsall (Conservative hold) and Wolverhampton (Labour hold).
Birmingham held four city council by-elections, but Labour maintains overall control of the council.
Conservatives have taken control of Cannock Chase District Council for the first time by securing 12 out of 13 council seats up for election.
The Conservatives also secured four more seats on Tamworth Borough Council, strengthening their majority.
Results of the Police and Crime Commissioner elections are to be revealed later today.
Click here to access Rebounding for Business, Visions of a West Midlands Mayor