The Conservative candidate standing to be mayor of York and North Yorkshire has pledged to buy Scarborough’s Grand Hotel and restore it to its former glory.

Keane Duncan said, if elected, he would use mayoral powers and funding to buy the Victorian hotel in St Nicholas Cliff.

He said his plan would require a multi-million pound investment.

In a video on his social media pages the candidate, who is North Yorkshire Council’s transport boss, said he would “wrestle” the hotel from its owners Britannia Hotels and “negotiate a sale using compulsory purchase if required”.

"I'll ensure the Grand Hotel is grand again," he added. "Restoring this landmark so it's a building we can be proud of, kickstarting the town's regeneration in the process and returning Scarborough to its glory days."

Mr Duncan said the hotel was “once the largest and most luxurious hotel in Europe” attracting guests like King Edward VIII and Winston Churchill but is now a “bargain hotel run by the UK’s worst-rated chain”.

“I admit this is a radical plan, but tackling the problem of the Grand is absolutely essential for Scarborough’s future fortunes," he added.

On TripAdvisor the Grand Hotel is rated 25/26 of hotels in Scarborough from just over 10,000 reviews and has an average rating of 2.5/5 stars.

York Press: Keane Duncan outside the Grand Hotel in ScarboroughKeane Duncan outside the Grand Hotel in Scarborough (Image: Supplied)

Alison Hume, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Scarborough and Whitby, called the pledge a "pie in the sky".

"If April Fool's Day hadn't been and gone, I may have mistaken this for a spoof video," she said. "The Conservative mayoral candidate is promising things which are unaffordable and not even within the remit of the mayoral office.

"I'm sure, like me, the people of Scarborough will also be very sceptical of this pledge coming from a Conservative politician whose party has spent a decade and a half forcing local authorities to sell off their buildings and left the public realm a hollow shell of what it once was.

York Press: Alison Hume, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Scarborough and WhitbyAlison Hume, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Scarborough and Whitby (Image: Supplied)

"The Grand is of course a magnificent symbol for the town, but it is now privately run, and buying a hotel is hardly the best use of taxpayers' money.

"There are so many more urgent issues such as healthcare, transport, the cost of living, lack of housing and not enough well-paid jobs which are affecting the town."

The new mayor of York and North Yorkshire - not to be confused with the Lord Mayor of York, a ceremonial role which will continue - will be responsible for a ‘Mayoral Investment Fund’ worth £540 million over 30 years.

Pledge comes after parties clash over Keane Duncan's free parking policy

Mr Duncan’s pledge to buy the Grand Hotel follows another election policy by the Conservative to trial introducing up to two hours free parking in all towns in cities in North Yorkshire for one year.

Critics - including his Labour and Liberal Democrat opponents - pointed out that the pilot would be costly.

David Skaith, the Labour and Co-operative mayoral candidate, said it would “cost a fortune” and felt there were better ways to help high streets.

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Felicity Cunliffe-Lister said the impact of the free parking policy was unclear.

"Does he want more cars and more emissions and more congestion?" she said. "If car parks are already full, how is this going to help the residents or the high street? This is a poorly considered policy, and that's a very large chunk of the mayoral £18 million budget to spend it on.”

But Mr Duncan said he was “confident the pilot will be a success for businesses in our towns and cities”.

“If there is positive feedback from traders, and the councils can be convinced of the benefits, I hope funding can be agreed to expand the free car parking beyond the first year on a permanent basis.”

The Press has approached Britannia Hotels for comment.