Ex-John Lewis boss Andy Street elected West Midlands mayor

Conservative candidate Street won a closely fought battle with Labour’s Sion Simon to deal a major blow to Jeremy Corbyn’s party.

Street, who stepped down as John Lewis managing director last September to concentrate on the mayoral campaign, secured 238,628 votes.

He pipped Simon by less than 4,000 votes, after the former MP for Erdington received 234,862 votes.

Second preference votes were taken into account under the supplementary voting system after Street won the first round, but neither candidate secured the required 50% majority.

John Lewis promoted Paula Nickolds to the role of managing director last October following Street’s departure.

Street told Sky News following his victory: “Over the last 30 years, the Conservative party has said it is going to win in urban Britain and that’s exactly what we have done today.”