Green Party won’t contest mayoral and crime chief elections in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire

The party will not contest May’s votes for elected mayor and police and crime commissioner.

Instead, the Greens say they are focused on the local elections, including in Peterborough where 23 of the 60 seats at the city council are being contested.

The party will hope to increase its number of councillors from two having won its first ever seat back in 2018.

So far, the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats have announced candidates for both elections which will be held on May 6.

Current Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough James Palmer (Conservative) will be standing against Dr Nik Johnson (Labour and Co-operative) and Aidan Van de Weyer (Liberal Democrat) in the battle to lead the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

Moreover, Darryl Preston (Conservative) is competing against Nicky Massey (Labour) and Rupert Moss-Eccardt (Liberal Democrat) to be the next police and crime commissioner.

The post is currently being held on an interim basis by Ray Bisby after the election was postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A Green Party spokesperson said: “The Green Party won’t be fielding a candidate in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough PCC and mayoral elections this May. Our campaigning efforts are focused on the council elections so that we can have even more Greens representing the communities they work so hard to support.”