Linda Arkley

Career

Arkley was first a Conservative Councillor for Tynemouth Ward and Deputy Leader of the Conservative group on North Tyneside Council until becoming mayor in a 2003 by-election, following the resignation of Chris Morgan. Arkley stood for a second term in 2005 but was defeated by Labour candidate John Harrison. Following this narrow defeat, she was elected as a Councillor for her native Preston Ward in 2005.

She began her second term as Mayor in June 2009 after winning the North Tyneside Council mayoral election, 2009 defeating the incumbent Labour Mayor John Harrison.

Arkley then stood as the Conservative candidate for Tynemouth Ward in May 2014 - a ward she had represented in the 1990s. She was defeated by the Labour incumbent, Sarah Day, by just 37 votes.

Achievements

• In May 2013 she was defeated by the Labour candidate Norma Redfearn who achieved a 55.35% vote after the first ballot (1788 percent of the electorate), winning the election by clear majority - this was the first time such a ballot had been won in North Tyneside.