Key questions answered in mayoral election debate

Six candidates are standing for election to the new role of mayor of Greater Lincolnshire.

The winner will head the new combined authority, which has an annual budget of £24m and control over strategic planning, investment, transport, skills, employment, business growth and infrastructure.

The election is being held on Thursday and the prospective mayors faced questions from the public in a debate hosted by BBC Political Editor Tim Iredale.

Below are some of their answers to key topics put forward by members of the public.

Steel-worker Harry Finnigan asked the candidates about how they would save the North Lincolnshire site from closure and ensure investment in its future.

Conservative Rob Waltham said he was a son of a steel worker and "we need to keep making virgin steel in this country". He called for further government intervention and said there was a lot of potential to develop the land around the site to bring investment by associated industries into the town.

Labour candidate Jason Stockwood said he supported the government's initial takeover of British Steel and said there needed to be a relationship between the government and the unions to ensure the future of the plant. "It's beyond just the economy, it's about the identity of people in Lincolnshire and Scunthorpe as well," he added.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns, for Reform UK, claimed that it was only since party leader Nigel Farage visited the town that the Labour government had taken action. She said the net-zero policy was "killing the industry" and the plan for electric arc furnaces should be abandoned.

Trevor Young, from the Liberal Democrats, said there needed to be a "long-term fix" to secure the future of the plant, which he said was losing £3m a week. He said a comprehensive plan needed to be drawn up involving cross-party support.

The Green Party's Sally Horscroft said the move to net zero would create jobs and the plant could be powered by hydrogen in the future. She described the steelworks as "vital to our economy" and said the UK needed to retain steelmaking, adding that her party's policy was to nationalise key industries.

Independent candidate Marianne Overton said there was a recognition by all parties to ensure the works "has a long-term future". She said she would use her contacts in Europe to negotiate deals for the plant.

Simon Skelton, from the 7,000 Acres group, which campaigns against large-scale development of solar farms in the county, asked what the candidates would do to "reverse this solar gold rush on farmland?"

Jason Stockwood said that although UK energy security was important, there needed to be a proper debate and consultation over developments. "We should definitely prioritise brownfield sites, industrial rooftops and other places before we look at prime farmland," he added.

Andrea Jenkyns said Lincolnshire had become a "dumping ground for solar and pylons", adding that, if elected, she would work to "frustrate this process" of new developments. She also called for cables to be buried underground and fracking to be introduced.

Sally Horscroft questioned the use of large developments and said they should instead be built on top of wasted spaces, such as supermarket car parks. "It should be incorporated into all new residential and industrial buildings and retrofitted where we can," she said.

Rob Waltham said he did not believe the large projects were needed and accused Energy Secretary Ed Miliband of being "asleep at the wheel". He called for solar panels to be placed on roofs and brownfield sites and called for a greater emphasis on food security.

Marianne Overton said she had campaigned against the large developments and spoken to government ministers, saying the "scale is just outrageous". "No one in their right minds would still think of putting solar panels on agricultural land," she added.

Trevor Young said he did not believe the claims on the number of jobs that would be created in renewable energy and claimed the government had "no strategy". He said there was a risk of farmland disappearing and a loss of countryside management of land and wildlife.

David Harby, who chairs the Railfuture Lincolnshire branch, asked about improving rail services in the county.

Sally Horscroft said public transport was "vital to tackling inequality". She called for co-ordination between bus and rail timetables and said she would increase investment in railways, including the possibility of reopening lines.

Trevor Young said investment was needed and asked what the county's MPs had been doing. "Over the years they have failed to bring the investment [compared] with other parts of the country," he said.

Rob Waltham said a lot of service cuts during the Covid-19 pandemic had not been reintroduced. He said he would promote travel passes to boost the number of people travelling. "Often we fund services, but we don't make sure they've passengers on them, which is a folly," he added.

Marianne Overton said she wanted an integrated system, adding that "transport is vital to the county's economy". She said there needed to be cross-party support, with councils and other bodies working together.

Andrea Jenkyns said all previous governments and councils had not fixed the problem. She said she wanted a strategic transport authority that took an overview and "not a silo approach".

Jason Stockwood pointed to the Labour government's nationalisation of rail services and said he wanted to have a franchise system for bus services similar to Greater Manchester. "Limited transport really limits your options in life, whether that's employment or education," he added.

Pamela Hodge is the chief executive of the Rock Foundation charity in Grimsby, which provides training opportunities. She asked how the candidates would help to rehabilitate former prisoners.

Andrea Jenkyns said figures showed that one in four prisoners reoffended and the "system has been broken for many years". The country needed "to break that cycle of crime", deal with even low-level offenders and stop being "soft-touch Britain".

Trevor Young said drug culture was behind a lot of offending and "lock them up and throw away the key has failed". He added: "Look into the reasons why people get into the criminal justice system, especially young people."

Jason Stockwood said getting businesses and other groups, such as colleges, involved was key. He used the example of Grimsby Town football club, which has partnered with a prison to work with inmates.

Rob Waltham said "prevention is better than cure" and more work was needed in prison to try to stop reoffending. He added: "We can't undermine the fact that the communities that have suffered crime have to know there is a consequence for them being the victim."

Sally Horscroft said prisoners needed help to tackle illiteracy and support finding jobs. "Tackle the inequality that leads to these problems, housing and mental health issues," she added.

Marianne Overton said there needed to be more preparation prior to prisoners being released. She said she would work with councils to ensure accomodation and possibly jobs were arranged for former inmates.

Sally Horscroft – Green Party: "I want to build a resilient, diverse economy not too dependant too much on one sector. I see a major part of boosting the county is tackling the root inequalities that is holding so many people back."

Dame Andrea Jenkyns – Reform UK: "If you've had enough of the two-party system, you want a disruptor. You want someone to stand up for the silent majority, put the people of Lincolnshire first and actually stand up for our children's future and to fight for you."

Marianne Overton – Independent: "To build strong, safe communities that are more prosperous for Greater Lincolnshire, I believe we need an independent mayor who can bring all parties together to really make a difference. I bring experience over a number of organisations across Lincolnshire and working with government and indeed working internationally as well."

Jason Stockwood – Labour: "This is the biggest role in politics in our region. We need somebody who has a track record of delivery who is not a career politician looking for their next job – someone who can bring people together, has the contact into the national government to get things done for our county."

Rob Waltham – Conservatives: "Born, bred and raised in Lincolnshire, I've run an outstanding council for the last nearly 10 years. If you want somebody who is going to get the connectivity challenge fixed, protect our coastline and fight against inappropriate development in terms of solar and the pylons, I'm the person to do it."

Trevor Young – Liberal Democrats: "Liberal Democrats are well-known for delivering well, good, effective services across the country and we're getting recognition for that now. We have 72 MPs up and down the country. As a local candidate leading a local council, I've demonstrated strong leadership and that's what this position will require."

It was the elephant in the room. Questions over whether Andrea Jenkyns truly lives in Lincolnshire had been raised behind the scenes of the campaigns for several weeks until they culminated in a formal hearing last week.

That hearing found for Jenkyns, but today the very personal feelings it has created were exposed live on air. Animosity between her and some of the other candidates was on display.

It was a flashpoint in a debate which also exposed much common ground on issues like the need to save and protect British Steel, concern over solar farms on agricultural land, and the need for better transport – just some of the issues upon which the mayor will be judged.

Information about the 1 May mayoral election and how to vote can be found here.

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