Tudor Evans

Tudor Evans OBE is a British Labour Co-operative politician who has been the leader of Plymouth City Council since May 2018 and councillor for Ham ward since 1988. He has led the Labour group on Plymouth City Council since 1998, including serving as leader of the council from 1998 to 2000, from 2003 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2016.

Early life

Evans was born in Ebbw Vale in Wales.[1] He moved to Plymouth as an undergraduate, studying Environmental Science.[2][3] He was a director of a co-operative printing company for thirteen years, and works as a local government consultant.[3]

Political career

Evans first stood for election to Plymouth City Council in 1987 in Sutton and Mount Gould ward, losing to SDP–Liberal Alliance candidates.[4] He was subsequently elected as a councillor to Ham ward in 1988, a seat he has held ever since.[5]

After the 1998 local election, Labour group leader John Ingham stood down having led the council for seven years. Evans was subsequently elected leader of the Labour group, saying he wanted to prioritise investment, jobs and the tourist industry.[6] He led the council until 2000, when the Conservatives won a majority of Plymouth council seats.

Evans became council leader again in 2003, crediting his victory to Conservative plans to close old people's homes When Labour lost its majority in 2007, he said he was "proud of what [his] council has achieved", but "puzzled" at having lost control.[6]

Labour again took control of the council in 2012, with defeated Conservative council leader Vivien Pengelly blaming a cut in the top rate of income tax and the proposed pasty tax. Evans again returned as council leader on a platform including job creation, webcasting council meetings, and trying to stop the construction of an incinerator.[7][8] In 2014, he was a signatory to an open letter to The Observer calling for an end to cuts to local government.[9] Evans was named Council Leader of the Year in 2015.[10]

The party lost control after the 2015 election, which left the council under no control, though Evans remained council leader.[11] Evans received an OBE for services to politics and local government in January 2016.[1][12] He was removed as council leader after the 2016 local elections, with local UK Independence Party councillors forming a coalition with the Conservatives.[6] During this time, Evans supported a cross-party campaign for Plymouth to retain its warships.[13]

After Labour restored its majority in the 2018 council election, Evans returned as council leader with a manifesto including pledges to create a thousand new parking spaces and to construct new low-cost homes.[14] Evans opposed plans to merge Devon and Cornwall Police with Dorset Police.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 "Ebbw Vale-born council leader gets OBE". South Wales Argus.
  2. ↑ Harris, John (4 November 2015). "'Send more rich people!' The reinvention of the once-great naval city of Plymouth". the Guardian.
  3. 1 2 "LGA Councillor details - Cllr Tudor Evans OBE". 6 May 2018.
  4. ↑ http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Plymouth-1973-1995.pdf
  5. ↑ Cooke, Millicent (26 November 2017). "The 65 most influential people in Plymouth alive today".
  6. 1 2 3 Telford, William (4 May 2018). "Tudor Evans - the ups and downs of a political survivor".
  7. ↑ "The Start of Something Good? An Interview With Tudor Evans - InPlymouth". 23 December 2012.
  8. ↑ "Labour take Exeter and Plymouth". 4 May 2012 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  9. ↑ "Council leaders of all parties plead for no more cuts - Letters". the Guardian. 30 November 2014.
  10. ↑ Ltd, Hemming Group (3 March 2015). "Tudor Evans scoops council leader of the year award".
  11. ↑ "Labour loses majority in Plymouth". 8 May 2015 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  12. ↑ Dudman, Jane (30 December 2015). "Local government chiefs receive New Year honours in 2016". the Guardian.
  13. ↑ O'Leary, Miles (24 October 2017). "Next stage of campaign to protect our armed forces revealed today".
  14. ↑ Baker, Chris (4 May 2018). "All 100 things new Labour council say they will do for Plymouth".
  15. ↑ "Plymouth council boss slams plans to merge Devon and Cornwall and Dorset Police".
Political offices
Preceded by
John Ingham		 Leader of Plymouth City Council
1998–2000		 Succeeded by
Patrick Nicholson
Preceded by
Kevin Wigens		 Leader of Plymouth City Council
2003–2007		 Succeeded by
Vivien Pengelly
Preceded by
Vivien Pengelly		 Leader of Plymouth City Council
2012–2016		 Succeeded by
Ian Bowyer
Preceded by
Ian Bowyer		 Leader of Plymouth City Council
2018–present		 Incumbent
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