In our series profiling the six candidates for Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, we sketch a portrait of Margaret Pinder the Labour candidate. These aren’t political hit-pieces or gotcha interviews. Instead, we step back from the noise to focus on something more lasting—the person behind the policies. We are unashamedly positive and celebrate our fellow citizens who, despite the compromises politics demands, remain anchored in their values. They’ve chosen to step into the spotlight, to face the crowd, and to offer themselves in the hope of making a difference.
HULL & EAST RIDING – Margaret Pinder doesn’t do things by halves. Whether it’s tackling complex legal cases, playing the double bass in the Hull Philharmonic, or standing to represent her hometown in two general elections, she throws herself into everything with a mix of intellect, passion, and just the right amount of irreverence. A career spanning law, academia, politics, and infrastructure means she’s no stranger to high-stakes decisions, but if you ask her what truly shaped her, it wasn’t the boardrooms or lecture halls—it was working as a care assistant in a German nursing home at 18. “That made the most lasting impression on me,” she says. “It made me reflect on how we treat people in old age and what it means to face the end of your life.”
Now, as she sets her sights on the mayoralty of Hull and East Riding, Margaret is once again ready to throw herself into the job, armed with imagination, guts, and a determination to make this region thrive.
Cambridge
Margaret Pinder was born and raised in Hull and the East Riding, her childhood split between Priory Road and Willerby. Her parents were teachers—her father had served in the Royal Navy before stepping into the classroom—so education was always a priority. She attended Wolfreton Comprehensive before heading to King’s College, Cambridge to read Modern Languages. “It was a culture shock,” she admits. “An incredible experience, but not always an easy one.”
Cambridge opened doors, but it also opened her eyes to social inequality. “Seeing the level of wealth and privilege among so many of the other students really brought home the scale of inequality out there,” she says. It was a lesson that stayed with her throughout her career, whether she was teaching at University, working as a solicitor in maritime and competition law, or leading major public sector projects in the UK.
Despite time spent in London, New York, and Boston, Hull and East Riding has always been home. She returned over 20 years ago, settling in Beverley, where she became the town’s first female Labour mayor in 2012—a tenure that happened to coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics. “It was an amazing year,” she says.
Fight
Margaret Pinder doesn’t mince words when it comes to Hull and the East Riding. She sees a region bursting with potential but weighed down by broken promises. “Talk of levelling up has remained just that—talk,” she says. “We’re still waiting for investment in decent transport infrastructure, jobs, and growth.”
She believes the area should be leading the way in clean energy, capitalising on its access to the Humber’s ports and offshore wind farms. “We should be developing clean energy for a publicly owned Great British Energy company, not serving as a dumping ground for nuclear waste,” she says bluntly.
“Talk of levelling up has remained just that—talk,” she says. “We’re still waiting for investment in decent transport infrastructure, jobs, and growth.”
Her vision for the region is ambitious but rooted in practicality—improving public transport, making the area a hub for green jobs, and ensuring residents see real improvements in their standard of living. She’s not interested in vague slogans; she wants to deliver tangible change.
Margaret Pinder’s no-nonsense attitude is balanced by a sharp wit and a deep appreciation for the people around her. Her closest confidant isn’t a political strategist or a party insider—it’s her neighbour, John Harper. “We kept each other sane during the pandemic,” she says. “We’re always there for each other, and we share an outrageous sense of humour. I can’t imagine living here without John to share the good and the bad times with. And my cats love him.”
Her humour? “Irreverent.” Her sense of duty? “Intense.” She’s not one to shy away from a fight, but she’s also not above kicking back with a murder mystery and some chocolate—preferably both at the same time.
Never enough
Margaret Pinder isn’t one to sit back and wait for change. She admits that every day starts with the thought that she hasn’t done enough.That drive has taken her across multiple careers, but the common thread has always been service—whether in the courtroom, the lecture hall, or the council chamber.
She draws inspiration from those who fought before her. “Any suffragette,” she says when asked which political figures she admires. “They faced prejudice, barbaric treatment by the establishment, and even died so that women could have a voice in our democracy.”
More than a footnote
Margaret Pinder doesn’t do empty promises. She doesn’t do vague aspirations. What she does do is fight for the place that made her who she is.
She wants Hull and East Riding to be more than just a footnote in government reports about “left-behind” regions. She wants it to be a leader in clean energy, a place where young people can build careers without moving away, and where investment means real improvements for everyone—not just the well-connected few.
If elected, expect Margaret to bring intellect, determination, and straight-talking honesty to the job. And if she ever gets a quiet evening to herself? A clear, cold glass of water (alcohol hasn’t agreed with her since Covid) and a good book about an unsolved crime sound just about perfect.
For Margaret Pinder, this campaign isn’t about making history—it’s about making a difference.
We’ll bring you further portraits of other candidates shortly.
Anne Handley – Conservative
Mike Ross – Lib Dem
Luke Campbell – Reform UK
Rowan Halstead – Yorkshire Party
Kerry Harrison – Green Party