We asked 20 Nottingham people about the mayoral election – this is what they said

Candidates on stage at a hustings event ahead of the election of the first East Midlands mayor. Photo: Friday 19th April 2024. (Copyright: Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)
The first Mayor of the East Midlands will be elected by the residents of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire on Thursday May 2.
We decided to go out and about to meet the residents of Nottingham and find out how much they knew about the upcoming election – or if they knew it was happening at all…
Setting up in Market Square, we asked:
Did you know there was an election for the new East Midlands Mayor on Thursday? Do you know who the candidates are? Do you know what the new mayor will do?
We found that three quarters of the residents we asked knew there was an election taking place.
But just one in five knew anything about the candidates or the new mayor’s powers.
This was the common theme. Many people had heard about the election but felt as if they had not been told anything about the candidates, what they stand for, or the mayorship itself.

Sandra from Woodborough said: “I don’t know [who the candidates are or what they stand for]. But I hope they can keep the nursing homes open. That’s something very important to me… it’s the social care that’s needed.”

We then met James from Carlton. He told us he was the great nephew of former Sheriff and Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Ernest A. Braddock. Like Sandra, he did not know much more than the fact the election was taking place.
He said: “There is very little information out there about it which is disappointing… we’ve had a flyer come through the house, but that’s the first I’ve heard of it.
“I wouldn’t know [what the new mayor will do] to be honest.”
According to the government, the introduction of a new combined authority mayor will level up Derbyshire and Nottingham and allow for potential major economic development.
The mayor will be able to set a budget and make decisions on transport and housing, with funding from the national government totalling £1.14 billion over 30 years.
They will be directly accountable by the 2.2 million people of the East Midlands every four years at the ballot box.
Some people however did not even know the election was happening.

Vera, 59, from Nottingham, said: “I thought it was the general election on May 2 … I was ready to vote in that.”
Before finishing up for the morning, we met Reverend Paul, the vicar of Saint Helen’s Church in Stapleford.

Paul had worked with the Stapleford Community Group to organise a husting between four of the candidates.
He said: “I know most of the names. I think they are going to have a big pot of cash to develop the region. I think that’s a great thing.
“Transport will hopefully be a big thing, and trying to sort that out to make it better for everybody … making the East Midlands a really great place to be and work.”
The election for the first Mayor of the East Midlands Combined Authority takes place on Thursday (May 2).