Labour party name their contender for Holgate by-election

Kallum Taylor, a 27-year-old senior communications officer with a York housing association, hopes to replace Sonja Crisp by winning the Holgate ward by-election on Thursday, February 15.

Mr Taylor, who lives in the ward and plays for Poppleton United Football Club, came out on top from a short list of five Labour candidates.

He said: “Holgate has got some big challenges, as has York.

“The York Central Development, which lies within the ward, has to provide solutions that are right for the city and not be just a chance for someone to make a quick buck.

“There’s so much going wrong in this country at the moment and I felt it was necessary to try and do something for my community.”

Mr Taylor has a background in student politics and was president of York University Students’ Union from 2012 to 2014.

He also served as the defacto Chair of their Trustee Board.

He added: “A campaign I’m most proud of in this role was borne out of the tragedy of a number of students lives being lost to the River Ouse.

“Working with local organisations we created a voluntary service for midweek student nights, called ‘NightSafe’.

“This tailored a similar service to York’s Street Angels, who offer support and safety to those who need it during the weekend nightlife.

“To minimise risk, guarantee success, and foster support across York for the scheme, we used expertise within the community by working with the North Yorkshire Police, Paramedics, nightclubs, the Street Angels themselves and won funding from Police & Crime Commissioner.

“The scheme launched in 2014 and still operates successfully today.”

Earlier this week, York’s Liberal Democrat group announced they have put forward Emma Keef, a mum-of-two who works for a charity, to represent them in the election.

The Holgate ward seat was vacated at the beginning of January when Sonja Crisp, the Lord Mayor of York in 2015/16, said she was retiring partly because of a neurological condition.