Green quits mayoral race 'to prevent vote split'

Sally Bunce has spent years campaigning on environmental issues in north-east England

A candidate for a mayoral contest in the North East of England has pulled out of the race because she does not want to split the effort to unseat the current post-holder.

Sally Bunce, of the Green Party, said she would no longer stand to be Tees Valley mayor because support for her could take away votes from other people standing against Conservative Ben Houchen.

A spokesman for Lord Houchen claimed Ms Bunce had made "grubby backroom deals" with Labour's candidate Chris McEwan - an allegation strongly refuted by both parties.

Ms Bunce withdrew from the race shortly before nominations closed.

Ms Bunce told the BBC she did not have the resources to stage a campaign that could rival Lord Houchen's.

'Every vote counts'

She believes the current mayor's campaign is too focused on "big business" and not enough on issues affecting the area such as child poverty, addiction and high rates of crime and suicide.

"Every vote counts," Ms Bunce said.

"I believe I'm the right person for the Tees Valley, but I didn't feel I could win without a campaign budget and team and I didn't want to pull away any votes.

"I did my best, but I've got to be realistic about going up against a massive PR machine."

Lord Houchen has been Tees Valley mayor since 2017

Lord Houchen's spokesman said: "I'm not surprised by the grubby backroom deals being done by Labour with the Green Party.

"[It's] anti-Teesside, anti-democracy."

In response, Ms Bunce said she was saddened at "childish mud-slinging".

She added: "My message to Ben Houchen is that if he is so worried about Green votes going to Labour, he should take a long and hard look at my manifesto and consider adopting some of the policies."

'No deals'

Labour's Mr McEwan said: "I can categorically say there have been no discussions and no deals.

"I have held no discussions and am highly confident none of my team have."

He highlighted his party's green strategies nationally and said the Tees Valley had a "significant and massive potential" to benefit from green industries.

The Green Party said it was disappointed Ms Bunce's "short-notice" decision meant people in the area would not have the opportunity to vote for its policies.

Liberal Democrat candidate Simon Thorley said he was focused on his own campaigning but wished Ms Bunce well.

He added: "It's sad to see her departure as she is a very passionate campaigner for the environment and causes in the region and believes very strongly in what she stands for.

"I am standing on my own merits as a candidate. This is not a referendum on Ben Houchen, it is the process of electing a mayor to make decisions for the next four years."