The new mayor of the East Midlands has vowed to address the region’s “massive challenges” after being elected in an historic poll.
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00:00People aren't expecting miracles. They know that our country is broken, they know that our local government is broken.
00:07Right across the region we've got massive challenges, but they wanted somebody who could start to turn that around.
00:14And that, I think, is the reason why people responded so well to our message of hope, of ambition, as well for the region.
00:22So I've talked, for example, about wanting to launch a Visit East Midlands campaign to really put our region on the map.
00:29To highlight some of the gems that we've got right across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
00:35Not simply the tourist attractions, but everything that we have here, including the brilliant businesses, small and large,
00:42that can make this place an even better place for people to come and to live and to work in.
00:48Is there anything of note then, personally for you, any areas of this region that you want to see rise up?
00:58I want every single part of this to feel the benefit of having a mayor and a new combined authority.
01:05I want them to see that benefit, because that's what they've been asked to vote for.
01:10And people have put their trust and confidence in me and in the Labour Party, and I think that's what we need to get on and do now.
01:17And will you be, I suppose, open to accountability as well from people on the ground, I suppose?
01:23Because obviously people have put their trust in you to bring this region up and get it the investment that, for so many years, it's lacked and been left behind.
01:33So how are you going to be open to that accountability?
01:36Well, so the accountability will be there. There will be opportunities for the mayor to continue to be questioned,
01:42to take part in events with citizens right across our region.
01:47But it's also about being the champion for this region.
01:50As I said in my acceptance speech, I will be the person who stands up for us, who shouts out for us, who makes the case for more investments.
01:59I'm not prepared to accept just this deal. It's a good start, but we can do it even better.
02:05And I want to make sure that we are delivering more over the next few years.
02:10This is a huge responsibility. It's a huge opportunity for our region. It's a chance to deliver more.
02:14And you rightly say, this investment, these powers and this opportunity to do more for our region across the board is a really important one.
02:22So I trust that you will give your absolute best in doing that.
02:26And I look forward to working with you and all colleagues who want to do more and use those powers for the better.
02:31Betterment of our local residents. Obviously hugely disappointed in the result on a personal level.
02:37And we spent two and a half years really trying to work together these powers and together this support and this investment for our region.
02:43But I know one way or the other that as a result of that, as a result of this new cap that we have as a region, we will be better off.
02:50And as I said, I look forward to supporting in delivering all of that.
02:55Second thing I want to say is that I think we have run as a party a really strong campaign in this part of the world.
03:01I'm so grateful to everybody over here and everybody out around the region.
03:06Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of volunteers, of staff, of supporters who have absolutely grafted for months to make sure that this was a tight race.
03:14To make sure that we have passively outperformed the national expectations.
03:18To make sure that despite that difficult tide, we have done everything we can do in this part of the world.
03:23So to all you guys and Conservative activists, councillors, supporters across all of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, a massive, massive thank you.