Council leaders’ concerns over ‘leadership and direction’ of Mayor’s office

ALLEGATIONS: Luke Campbell, the Reform UK Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority (HEYCA)

By Angus Young

The region’s two council leaders have called for an urgent meeting with Local Government Minister Jim McMahon over the trouble-torn Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority.

They say they have serious concerns over the direction and leadership of the authority led by Reform UK Mayor Luke Campbell.

In a joint letter, Hull City Council leader Mike Ross, his East Riding counterpart Anne Handley and their two deputies also say there is “little clear evidence of a vision for the region”.

All four councillors also serve as board members at HEYCA.

The letter was written and sent before The Observer revealed Mayor Campbell was the subject of police investigation into alleged harassment over claims that he showed a female member of the authority’s staff “naked and sexualised” images of himself.

He has not been arrested or charged and denies the allegations.

Last weekend The Observer reported on further allegations of bullying, intimidation, threats of physical violence, racist abuse, homophobia, breaches of confidentiality and failures to provide a safe working environment involving staff at the authority.

Launched 18 months ago, the authority has yet to appoint a full-time chief executive while a number of senior staff have come and gone.

The letter says: “We are writing regarding the position of the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority.

“As you are aware, the Combined Authority came into existence in early 2025, with the election of the Mayor taking place in May 2025.

“As leaders of the constituent councils, we recognise that the process of establishing the Combined Authority is not a quick or easy one and requires considerable effort to get over the line. This is both in terms of putting together the officer resource and setting out the direction of the region under the Mayor’s vision.

“In recent months there have been increasing causes for concern with the direction and leadership of the authority. Recruitment to key roles has been problematic and there is little clear evidence of a vision for the region under the organisation.

“In addition to these concerns, the Police and Crime Commissioner and his deputy have written to the Prime Minister raising their own serious concerns about the progress of the organisation.

“In the light of the concerns that have been raised and the ones we hold, we are writing to request a meeting with yourself as soon as possible.

“We want to see devolution succeed in this region, but are understandably concerned that this is not going to happen on the current course.”

Mr McMahon, who is Minister for local government, devolution and regional growth, has yet to reply.

Meanwhile, a scheduled meeting of the HEYCA executive board due to be held on Friday has been cancelled after members were told there was a “lack of business” to discuss.

Although it’s the main decision-making committee at the authority, the board has only met four times since early May. One of those meetings lasted just 20 minutes.