EXCLUSIVE: West of England Mayor confirms MP bid
Dan Norris says he is "putting his hat into the ring" to be Labour's candidate in North East Somerset
The Mayor of the West of England says he is putting himself forward to be an MP at the next General Election.
Dan Norris has previously admitted considering the idea, but has now told Greatest Hits Radio that he is "putting his hat into the ring" to be Labour's candidate for a new North East Somerset constituency.
Mr Norris has been Labour's Mayor of the West of England Combined Authority since May 2021, having previously been a minister in Gordon Brown's Labour government, from 2009 to 2010.
He lost his seat as an MP in 2010 when he was beaten by Conservative Jacob Rees Mogg, with this news meaning a rematch is now possible.
The news comes a day after Bath and North East Somerset Council leader Kevin Guy (who is a Liberal Democrat), told BBC Radio Bristol that Mr Norris is not fully focused on his Mayoral role because of his desire to re-enter parliament.
"It's true that I'll be putting my hat into the ring for the new North East Somerset constituency," Mr Norris said.
"But to say that I haven't got focus as Mayor is just political meddling by Kevin.
"I like Kevin as a person, but Kevin is known for this kind of thing, Kevin does speak off the cuff and doesn't necessarily think things through properly.
"He is entitled to his view but it's a view that doesn't bare any reality whatsoever."
The next West of England Mayoral election is not due until 2025, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he expects a general election to take place in the second half of this year, meaning Mr Norris would look to become an MP whilst still sitting as Mayor.
Mr Norris says it would be possible to hold both roles simultaneously.
"There's precedent because you can be an MP and a Mayor and Daniel Jarvis who was the mayor in South Yorkshire, he was able to do both, but I think the point is we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves because it won't be me who decides that.
"It will be the Labour party members in the new North East Somerset constituency who will decide that, and they will weigh all those factors in their minds, in their calculations."
What is currently the North East Somerset constituency held by Jacob Rees Mogg, will change for the next election.
Different areas from it will separate into three new constituencies: North East Somerset and Hanham, Bath and Frome and East Somerset.