REDDITCH MP Karen Lumley has thrown her support behind Conservative mayor for the West Midlands candidate Andy Street.

The MP has said she is delighted her friend, the John Lewis boss, has been selected as the Conservative candidate to run as mayor.

Some 12 months ago Redditch decided to join the new West Midlands Combined Authority as a non-constituent member.

And while residents will not get the chance to vote who the mayor will be, because Redditch will be a non-constituent member, Mrs Lumley believes that Mr Street will be a force for good in the town.

Mr Street, the veteran boss of John Lewis, is to step down from the department store chain at the end of this month in order to fight the mayoral campaign for the Conservatives.

The vote will take place in May 2017 and will see voters across the West Midlands metropolitan authorities choose their first directly elected mayor for the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

Mrs Lumley said said: “The role will have powers focused at continuing the economic recovery of the West Midlands region, which can only be good for Redditch.

“Andy has been heavily involved in the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and was instrumental in helping forge the WMCA. Having somebody with cross-party respect can only help to make the West Midlands even stronger, with no borough left behind.

“I also know Andy very well on a personal level. He is one of the most vibrant people I have ever met and has turned round the fortunes of John Lewis in the years that he has been in charge. I therefore know that he will do a superb job as mayor for the West Midlands and will also have the best interests of Redditch at heart.”