Kim McGuinness
Kim McGuinness | |
|---|---|
 Kim McGuinness in 2021 | |
| Mayor of the North East | |
| Assumed office 7 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Jamie Driscoll (as Mayor of the North of Tyne) Tracey Dixon (as Chair of the North East Combined Authority) |
| Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria | |
| In office 19 July 2019 – 8 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Vera Baird |
| Succeeded by | Susan Dungworth |
| Member of Newcastle City Council for Lemington | |
| In office 7 May 2015 – September 2019 | |
| Succeeded by | Jason Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Cara Kim McGuinness 29 May 1985 Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | Newcastle University (BA) |
| Website | Official website |
Cara Kim McGuinness[1] (born 29 May 1985) is a British Labour Party politician who was elected as the Mayor of the North East in May 2024.[2] Previously, she served as the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner between 2019 and 2024.[3][4]
Early life and career[edit]
McGuinness was born in the West End of Newcastle upon Tyne.[5] She grew up in a council house, her father was a scaffolder and her mother worked as a secretary at an insurance broker.[6] She attended Cheviot First School and Gosforth High School.[7] McGuinness was the first in her family to attend university and graduated from Newcastle University in 2006 where she studied history.[8] Prior to entering politics McGuinness worked professionally in a number of sectors including finance, universities and charities.[8]
McGuinness was elected to represent the Lemington ward on Newcastle City Council in 2015, before joining the authority's cabinet in 2016 as executive member for culture, sport and public health.[5][9][10]
McGuinness became the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner in a by-election on 18 July 2019, succeeding Dame Vera Baird and the acting commissioner, Ruth Durham, following Baird leaving the role to become Victims' Commissioner.[3] She retained the role following an election on 6 May 2021.[4]
McGuinness was selected as the Labour candidate for the new position of North East Mayor in July 2023.[11][12] The election took place on 2 May 2024.[13]
In July 2023, an allegedly racist tweet came to light that had been posted by Kim McGuinness in 2011. The tweet said "f*** off! I am not a gypsy!" In February 2024 a complaint was made by The Traveller Movement to Keir Starmer, and McGuinness apologised for what she admitted was an "offensive" remark.[14]
In May 2024 McGuinness was elected as the first North East Mayor. She won 41.3% of the vote.[15]
Personal life[edit]
McGuinness lives in Northumberland with her husband David Prutton,[16] a serving Royal Air Force officer.[17]
References[edit]
- ^ "Cara Kim MCGUINNESS personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk.
- ^ "North East Mayor Election 2024 Candidates and Results". BBC News. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Kim McGuinness elected as Northumbria police commissioner". BBC News. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Northumbria PCC 2021: Labour's Kim McGuinness retains role". BBC News. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ a b Holland, Daniel (13 June 2019). "Kim McGuinness on why she's qualified to succeed Vera Baird as Police and Crime Commissioner". Chronicle Live.
- ^ Davenport, Hannah (3 May 2024). "Who is Kim McGuinness, the first North East Mayor?". Left Foot Forward: Leading the UK's progressive debate. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Kim McGuinness". TEDxNewcastle. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ a b Hill, Laura (26 July 2018). "Meet the trustees who will manage Newcastle's parks". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ "Labour's Kim McGuinness becomes new Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner". ITV News. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
- ^ Holland, Daniel (24 July 2019). "Why the new police commissioner is staying on as a councillor". nechronicle. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
- ^ "Kim McGuinness: Labour selects PCC as North East mayor candidate". BBC News. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ "North East moves one step closer to historic Mayor". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ "Forthcoming Elections | Newcastle City Council". www.newcastle.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ Holland, Daniel (15 February 2024). "Labour mayor candidate accused of 'racial slur' in historic social media post". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Kim McGuinness elected first North East Mayor". BBC News. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ Lindsay, Kali; Morris, Aaron (3 May 2024). "Live updates as Kim McGuinness is named North East's first-ever mayor". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "About". Kim McGuinness. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
External links[edit]
- Official website Page on Northumbria-PCC
- Kim McGuinness on Facebook