North East Mayor elections: Who is Paul Donaghy?

Paul Donaghy is running as the Reform UK candidate for North East Mayor

Voters will elect the first ever North East mayor on 2 May.

The winner will represent two million people living in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham and will get powers and funding from Westminster to make decisions locally.

Paul Donaghy is the Reform UK candidate

He is also currently a councillor serving Washington South in Sunderland and area operations manager for a hotel chain. Mr Donaghy, 42, was born in High Heaton and says he began his professional career in the Royal Navy as a chef. He lives in Washington with his wife, who is a sister at Sunderland Royal Hospital, and has four children.

His top priority is creating youth and community projects

He said funds have been "decimated in the last 20 years, with cuts from central government and wasteful council spending". Mr Donaghy has pledged to develop a mayoral fund to provide a platform for young people to learn new skills, activities, explore interests and develop their talents.

He will 'prioritise the community'

Mr Donaghy said he has a strong focus on "people before politics" and is dedicated to creating positive change and serving the people of the North East and the United Kingdom.

He says he will not work for a political agenda

When we asked what makes him the best person for the job, he said: "I will work in the best interest of the people, not any political agenda or union."

He says housing is the biggest challenge facing the region

He said more affordable homes need to be built and that social rental housing stock needs to be replaced.

The thing he loves most about the North East is the people

"We are welcoming and understanding but we do not tolerate fools or nonsense," he said, adding: "No matter where you go in the world, people know about how friendly we are up north. I have been fortunate enough to travel the world in the Royal Navy and I can tell you there is certainly no place like the North East, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else."