Conservative council leader Carl Les has said Keane Duncan should have time to campaign to be mayor whilst fulfilling his duties as executive member for transport.

But he warned “if he’s not pulling his weight” whilst touring the county in a campervan he will speak to him about it.

Cllr Duncan is the Conservative candidate for the York and North Yorkshire mayoral elections on May 2 but is also in charge of transport in Cllr Les’s executive.

It has led to concern that he won’t be able to give his executive role full attention.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service at the launch of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority on Thursday, Cllr Les said Cllr Duncan has been attending all informal and formal meetings of the executive since starting his 100-tour and has also been keeping in touch with council transport officers.

Cllr Les said:

Before embarking on his trip around North Yorkshire to meet the electorate, Cllr Duncan stepped down from his job as a journalist at the Daily Star.

Cllr Les added:

If Cllr Duncan becomes mayor, Cllr Les will be one of two North Yorkshire councillors on the combined authority board with him. City of York Council will also have two members.

Cllr Les said Cllr Duncan didn’t need to ask his permission for the tour, which he described as eye-catching.

He added:

Who is standing to be mayor?

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