Andy Preston (born 31 July 1966) is an English politician, charity chairman, and businessman. He was the elected Mayor of Middlesbrough from May 2019 until May 2023.[1][2][3][4]
Andy Preston | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mayor of Middlesbrough | |
| In office 6 May 2019 – 8 May 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Dave Budd |
| Succeeded by | Chris Cooke |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 July 1966 Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England |
| Political party | Independent |
| Education | Edinburgh University |
| Occupation | Businessman, charity chairman, politician |
Charity work
editWhile working as a fund manager in London and New York, Preston was a patron of international children's charity ARK between 2002-2008.[5][6] He also served as chairman of charity Fairbridge Teesside from 2005 to 2010.[7] The first charity he founded was Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation in 2011, which raises and distributes funds to boost communities across the urban area of Teesside.
An early supporter and trustee of the charity was public relations executive Mark Bolland The Foundation is supported by a number of local businesses including Middlesbrough Football Club and Steve Gibson's Bulkhaul. It has also won support from Olympic long jumper Chris Tomlinson.[8]
Preston launched a second charity in 2013 to alleviate homelessness and poverty across the UK called CEO Sleepout.[9] The charity raises funds by holding events across the country.[9] In December 2016 Preston launched a charity restaurant, The Fork in the Road, in Middlesbrough, providing employment opportunities for ex-offenders, recovering addicts and the long term unemployed.[10]
Preston previously chaired Tees Valley Education, an academy trust operating in some of the UK's most disadvantaged areas.[11]
Business career
editAndy Preston worked as a trader and fund manager, overseeing operations in London and New York.[12] After returning to the North East of England he started investing in a range of commercial property ventures.[13] He has also invested in a number of start-up businesses.[14]
Political career
editAndy Preston was historically an active member of the Labour Party,[15] blogging for them and addressing their national conference in 2006 and 2007 respectively. In 2013 he spearheaded a successful campaign to retain the role of elected mayor of Middlesbrough.[16] Preston stood for election as an independent in 2015 to become elected mayor of Middlesbrough, narrowly losing out to Labour's Dave Budd.[17] In 2016 Preston took up a voluntary role as a regional business ambassador for the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign ahead of the referendum to decide whether the country should remain or leave the European Union.[18] After being linked as a potential candidate to become the first Tees Valley Mayor, Preston ruled himself out of the race but warned against the election of a career politician.[19]
Preston was elected as Mayor of Middlesbrough on 2 May 2019, after running as an independent. He won in the first round with 59% (17,418) of the votes counted, with Labour's Mick Thompson coming second with 6,693 votes.[20]
His mayoral polices included making Middlesbrough a hunger free town, where emergency food and help was made available to residents seven days a week.[21] Other notable polices were prioritising the building of social housing on a large scale, crime reduction via a massive roll-out of CCTV and attracting external investment to reverse economic decline. During Preston's tenure as mayor, Middlesbrough garnered recognition in the Financial Times' European Cities and Regions of the Future report, ranking as the third most promising small city in Europe for investment opportunities.[22][23] Additionally, Preston emphasized tree planting initiatives and their environmental benefits.The successful planting of 10,000 trees led to Middlesbrough being officially designated as a Tree City of the World in 2021.[23][24]
In a local election held in 2023 he was defeated by the Labour candidate Chris Cooke who won 10,956 votes to Preston’s 10,196.[2]
Personal life
edit
Preston and his wife have lived at Otterington Hall, a grade II-listed mansion near Northallerton, since at least 2007.[25][26] It has "one of the best topiary gardens in England and certainly the best in Yorkshire".[25]
References
edit- ^ "Local elections results: Independent wins Middlesbrough mayor". BBC. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Local elections 2023: Labour's Chris Cooke ousts Andy Preston as Middlesbrough mayor". BBC News. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Middlesbrough mayor referendum: Andy Preston 'would stand'". BBC News. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
- ^ "CEO Sleepout UK – An Interview with founder Andy Preston". North West Business Life. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
- ^ Robert Watts (20 March 2011). "There's hope up north – Midas has come home". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- ^ "Absolute Return for Kids". sourcewatch.org. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ McKenzie, Sandy (2 December 2010). "Cash support so vital, says Fairbridge Teesside boss". gazettelive. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ Cain, James (24 May 2019). "Andy Preston steps down from 'force for good' charity". gazettelive.
- ^ a b Tingle, Rory (15 February 2016). "St James' Park to host sleepout as part of drive to reduce homelessness in Newcastle". nechronicle. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "New Middlesbrough restaurant to give former offenders and addicts 'a second chance' | Tyne Tees – ITV News". Itv.com. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ "The Board". Tees Valley Education. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ McKenzie, Sandy (29 March 2010). "£2.5m to bring Linthorpe college back to life". Gazette Live. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
- ^ Journal, The. "Former Cleveland Club reopens as Gibson House at Boho Four". The Journal. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
- ^ Administrator, journallive (4 April 2012). "Global backing for Middlesbrough-based Thap". journallive. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ "fmttm |". Fansonline.net. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
- ^ Dye, David. ""From Billion-Pound Hedge Funds to the Race for Mayor; BUSINESSMAN Andy Preston Is"very Busy" – and Life Is about to Get a Whole Lot More Hectic. He Talks Morals, Parmos and What's Inspiring Him to Win Next Year's Middlesbrough Mayoral Election with KELLEY PRICE" – Evening Gazette (Middlesbrough, England), March 4, 2014". Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ^ "Dave Budd replaces Ray Mallon as Middlesbrough mayor". BBC News. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
- ^ Cain, James (22 April 2016). "Teesside business leaders meet to hear case for Britain remaining in EU". Gazette Live. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
- ^ Mike Brown (23 October 2015). "Andy Preston unlikely to stand for Teesside mayor – but warns against 'career politician'". Gazette Live. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ "Former Middlesbrough Mayor set to appear in court after being charged by police". The Northern Echo. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Cash will support Middlesbrough's 'hunger-free' campaign". The Northern Echo. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Boost for Mayor's plans to plant 10,000 trees". The Northern Echo. 30 December 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Middlesbrough - the small city of the future". We are Middlesbrough. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Tree City of the World | Middlesbrough Council". www.middlesbrough.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Top topiary is ready after a precision clip". Darlington and Stockton Times. 7 September 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ "Mud proves to be show stopper as county's big day washed out". Yorkshire Post. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2020.