Police, fire and crime commissioner David Allen has been named as the Labour Party’s candidate for the mayor of Cumbria.
Mr Allen, who will see his current role disappear with the creation of a new Cumbria Combined Authority, has been revealed as a candidate for the elected mayor who will lead it.
Elections for the new combined authority will take place in May 2027.
The new authority is due to come into official being this year. It is a new partnership of Cumbria’s two unitary councils, Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland, working for the whole county.
Until the election, it will be steered by political leaders from the two unitary councils.
The combined authority will make decisions on strategic plans and investments in Cumbria and will be granted new powers that currently sit with the Government.
This will include powers to create a single plan for transport in Cumbria, bringing vital investment across networks; unlock regeneration and housing projects and drive environmental resilience.
Cumbria will receive at least £333 million of funding over the next 30 years to fund priority programmes, as well as access to bid for further investment.
Mr Allen said he wanted to take his record of reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, strengthening visible community policing and ensuring criminals – not communities – pay the price to the mayoralty.
David Allen has today been selected as The Labour Party’s candidate for Mayor of Cumbria, ahead of the election due to take place in May 2027, pledging to build on his record of cutting crime, restoring neighbourhood policing and investing in young people.
Mr Allen said: “It has been the privilege of my life to serve Cumbria as Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
“Now I’m ready to take that record of delivery into the role of mayor of Cumbria, continuing to build safer communities, create economic opportunity for all, strengthen our world-class nuclear and defence industries, and improve transport connections across our county.
“Cumbria needs a mayor who will put the needs of ordinary Cumbrians first. I am ready to be that mayor.”
Supporting his candidacy, Josh MacAlister, Labour’s MP for Whitehaven and Workington, said: “David Allen has shown what Labour leadership looks like in practice, tough on crime, focused on prevention and rooted in community values.
“I look forward to working with him to strengthen our world-class nuclear sector and deliver for communities across Cumbria.
“He is exactly the kind of Mayor Cumbria needs.”
Michelle Scrogham, Labour’s MP for Barrow and Furness, added: “David understands Cumbria because he has delivered for Cumbria. He has served in every corner of our county as a police officer and served his country as head of the UK’s Interpol Bureau.
“He is an outstanding candidate for mayor of Cumbria, and I look forward to getting out on the doorsteps with him to deliver Labour’s message and build a Cumbria that works for all.”
