Dan Jarvis to step down as South Yorkshire Mayor

South Yorkshire mayor Dan Jarvis will not seek another term in the role.

The Labour politician said he intends to remain as MP for Barnsley Central and defended his decision to combine his Westminster duties with the devolved role.

But ahead of the May 2022 mayoral election, he said the region now needed someone to "drive us forward over the next four years" and "that person will not be me".

Mr Jarvis, who was elected to the mayoral role in 2018, said:

"The settlement we negotiated helped take us through the worst of the pandemic and is really starting to deliver for people in South Yorkshire.

"We now need someone to build on our achievements and drive us forward over the next four years. That person will not be me.

"I won't be standing as mayor again next May but in the meantime I will continue to give 110% to the role."