The Hull and East Yorkshire Mayor, Luke Campbell, has slammed the political rumour mill amid claims he is considering a defection from Reform UK to Labour. He has underlined his commitment to the party and has claimed the rumours were started to further disrupt Reform’s conference in Birmingham last week.
The Mayor explained he is happy to work cross-party with Andy Burnham, the new Labour Prime Minster and former Mayor of Greater Manchester. However, he said the seeds of change were being planted locally, with Hull City Council now having ten Reform councillors.
Mr Campbell added he is confident Reform UK can provide change for people in Hull and East Yorkshire. He said: “I have not had any conversations with any other party about defection. I am a Reform mayor. I don’t know where these rumours have come from and there is no basis for them.”
National newspaper reports claim several unnamed sources had Mr Campbell on ‘defection watch’. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is believed to be a fan and it is claimed he is keen to win over the Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire who was elected by local people to lead the Combined Authority in May 2025.
His openness to cross-party delivery for local people has perhaps been misunderstood by the political establishment, Mr Campbell explained. He said: “Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he wants to work cross-party to get results for the public. I am happy with that statement and have been positive with the Prime Minister when I have seen him because, for me, it’s people and place before the party. Maybe the Prime Minister and the Labour Party have confused this as being something different?”
The rumour mill has gone into overdrive because of Reform conference, he said. “I stood for this role because I want to help make a difference to the residents of Hull and East Yorkshire. I was elected as a Reform mayor and believe that the people of Hull and East Yorkshire want a change that neither the Tories nor Labour can provide. The May elections showed this where we now have ten new Reform councillors. Announcing this non-story is just the left-wing press’s way of trying to disrupt the Reform Conference.”
The next few months will see a series of announcements for local communities, Mr Campbell said. He added: “I said to the public that this year will be all about delivery. Imminently there will be some announcements that hopefully will start to show the public I am listening to them and starting to make some positive progress. This role isn’t about me, it’s about working for the residents.”
Mr Campbell was elected as the first mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire with 35.8% of the vote in May 2025 and he now leads a new combined authority for the region. His authority hold powers over skills, transport, planning, economic development and controls a £13.3m annual investment fund.
Before becoming Mayor, Luke Campbell competed for St. Paul’s Amateur Boxing Club in Hull, winning the English senior ABA bantamweight title. He won a gold medal at the 2008 European Championships, silver at the 2011 World Championships, and triumphed with gold at the London 2012 Olympics.
He then competed as a professional boxer from 2013 to 2021, where he was also known by the nickname ‘Cool Hand’ and won 20 of his 24 fights – 16 coming by knockout.
By: Paul Drury-Bradey, LDRS
