Karl McCartney
Mayoral Candidate for Lincolnshire
I am Karl McCartney, the former Member of Parliament for the Lincoln Constituency. On this website, you will find my local campaigns and community initiatives.
As a former MP, Karl understands Parliament
As a former Minister, Karl understands Government and Whitehall
As a former Local Government Officer and Parish Councillor, Karl understands Local Government
Karl has a successful career working extensively across the private sector
Karl has a credible educational background
Karl has been a local County ‘champion’ for many years
Karl is a supporter of rural pursuits, farmers and countryside based businesses
Having led the East Midlands’ Brexit Campaign Karl has consistently and constantly battled for all Conservative values he believes in
Greater Lincolnshire Mayor
Candidate Selection: 7th December
As you will have heard, the election for a Greater Lincolnshire Mayor will take place in May 2025, and I have applied to be the Conservative Candidate. I have recently been informed I have passed the first stages of the CCHQ selection and am now one of six Members of our Party on the short list from which the Conservative Party Candidate for this new and important public office will be chosen on the 7th December. I look forward to these next steps.
I pledge to serve the people, businesses and Conservative Party across our wonderful County using my experience, dedication and tenacity, as I have done in my previous role as a Member of Parliament for Lincoln. I will always ‘Put Greater Lincolnshire First.
As the MP for Lincoln for over 12 years, my proven track record of successfully delivering for Lincoln and Lincolnshire speaks for itself. I believe this positions me well to be a strong candidate both amongst my peers and on the hustings amongst our electorate whose support we must ultimately win in May next year.
As well as my career in Parliament, which means I understand well how the machinery of Government operates, I also have deep experience of local government having been a local government officer for over five years and a Councillor for five years, standing in various elections in different areas. I believe knowing how both tiers of Government work (national and local) will be essential for the new Mayor. I have also served at various levels in our Party as a volunteer, as a Branch Chairman, Association Officer roles and as a qualified Agent in the early 1990s, and in 2007 I was the Area Chairman of Lincolnshire.
I also have business experience having operated in various roles in the City of London, working with the Lord Mayor of the City, and in roles such as a Logistics Analyst and as a management consultant in the private sector with Initiate and directly for both the Country Land and Business Association and other organisations such as the Strategic Rail Authority and TfL. I worked across London and the South East, and the Midlands, as well as nationally and internationally and that professional and business acumen is the third leg of the stool of experience that I believe the new Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire needs to have.
My plans for future prosperity for our County focus on economic growth, improved transport infrastructure, and housing, which are vital for Greater Lincolnshire's success.
KEY THEMES OF MY VISION:
Lincolnshire Energy Commission: Promoting a Clean Energy Corridor
Keep Lincolnshire Green: Working together to protect our landscape from Ed Milliband's inappropriate pylon plans, solar and wind farms
Rural Homes for Families Initiative & a Town Revitalisation Fund
Transport: A15, A16 and A17 upgrades and a Rural Mobility Partnership to try and connect more of our sometimes isolated communities with better bus and rail links
Agri-tech Hubs: Supporting Lincolnshire's key role in the UK’s and international food sector
Growing our Economy: Skills for Lincolnshire Programme and a Business Start-Up & Growth Fund
Expanding the Defence & High-Tech Innovation to help develop and promote our flourishing defence sector
Tourism: Enhancing the tourism offer across our County
As Mayor, I would work closely with local councils, businesses, and community organisations to deliver on these themes. I would collaborate with the Police and Crime Commissioner to improve policing and reduce crime across Lincolnshire; despite all the good work, Lincolnshire Police are still underfunded.
This role requires an outward-facing advocate for Lincolnshire - someone who can focus on securing investment and attention from Westminster without interfering with how our Councils are run. As Mayor, I would be the focal point for making the case for our historic County, highlighting its importance not just in food and agriculture but also in emerging industries like defence and energy.
Successful Mayors, such as Andy Street and Lord (Ben) Houchen, have shown the value of partnering with all levels of Government to speak with one voice on critical issues like transport and housing. That is the approach I would take for Greater Lincolnshire. It should not be for any Mayor to start dictating to local Councillors where they should and should not be building houses.
Next May will be politically challenging, and conversations I am already having indicateThe Reform Party poses a real threat. My deep experience in Lincolnshire politics, and fundraising, would help drive a campaign between now and next May to ensure we do not see a repeat of past losses. My extensive network of contacts across the County and Country, both within and outside of our Party, will enable me to raise a significant Fighting Fund that, together with County Councillors and Candidates, we can use to ensure Lincolnshire stays blue.
I am the right candidate to represent the Conservative Party and win this Greater Lincolnshire Mayor election. I will campaign across the County alongside Conservative Candidates to ensure our shared success in May 2025.
I would welcome your support and would be grateful for your endorsement and any advocacy you might be minded to undertake. If you would like to discuss any ideas or priorities, please do not hesitate to contact me in the most convenient way for you. Thankyou for your time and consideration.
