Boris Johnson has failed to name the West of England metro mayor Dan Norris – just months after making the same gaffe over his predecessor.
The Prime Minister was asked during an interview with ITV West Country if he knew now who the regional mayor was, following his infamous blunder in Stonehouse in April when he could not recall fellow Conservative Tim Bowles had held the position for four years.
But in a stuttering answer he admitted: “Listen, I can’t remember.”
'Listen, I can't remember..." -Boris Johnson fails to name West of England Mayor - but insists he has "incredible" plans to "level up" the region. pic.twitter.com/RBSKdmLxiZ
— ITV News West Country (@itvwestcountry) October 4, 2021
Mr Johnson then tried to excuse his ignorance by suggesting current Labour mayor Mr Norris, who was elected in May, had not yet requested a meeting with him.
But a letter from 10 Downing Street shows an invitation was declined due to the Prime Minister's “diary pressures”.
After the PM was left stumped over the mayor’s name, ITV West Country political correspondent David Wood told him: “It’s Labour’s Dan Norris, you’ve not met him yet, and these people are key to ‘levelling up’.
“He has been in the post since May. Do you not want to level up the West?”
Mr Johnson replied: “We are doing incredible things to level up across the whole of the South West.
“To the best of my knowledge, the metro mayor that you mention has not actually requested to see me. I don’t think I’ve seen a letter from him saying he wants to see me.”
The Prime Minister said he would be “delighted” to see Mr Norris if he wanted a meeting.
Mr Norris said in response: “I’m pleased the PM now appears to have agreed to speak to me.
“I will now contact the PM by any form of communication he wants, be that letter, email or even carrier pigeon, to arrange this important face-to-face meeting.
“For me this meeting will be above party politics focussing firmly on what is important for our region and for Great Britain Plc too.
“My job as metro mayor is to put the West of England firmly on the national and global map.
“Our region is world-beating in many areas that help the national interest and boost international trade too. So there are many things the PM and I need to discuss.
“These include key areas like quantum computing where our region leads the word and is set to be the next big technology – even more revolutionary than the internet.
“I also need to discuss leading-edge electric car and battery manufacture here in the West Country as there are local fears the UK could miss out to European competitors.
“The Port of Bristol must be boosted if our region is to thrive and environmental concerns are second to none here in the West of England.”
He added that England’s regional mayors had requested a group meeting with the PM following May’s elections but were still waiting.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel