Sir Peter Soulsby’s achievements in politics illustrate a lifetime of dedication to public service and the city of Leicester. 17 years as the leader of the City Council and two successful election campaigns in Leicester South were followed by arguably his biggest achievement and challenge, becoming the first ever elected Mayor of Leicester.

Soar Magazine spoke to Sir Peter just days into his new role for an exclusive interview with the man who will lead our city for the next four years…

What was your motivation for running to become the Mayor of Leicester?
I am passionate about this city and I believe in the potential for this city to improve. Having been the leader of the City Council I know what it takes to give Leicester the direction it requires and I was delighted to be voted in by the public.

Do you have any key targets, perhaps for the first 100 days in office?
We have created somewhere between 50 to 60 initiatives to be achieved within the first 100 days in office. I will be looking at them and reviewing with my cabinet before we make a final decision.

What kind of a mayor do you hope to be?
It is important that I listen to the people, but it is critical that I deliver. We are trying to communicate openly with the Leicester public, by going into the city and meeting people. It is early days, but we are looking forward to the challenge.

What would constitute a success for your role, given that this is the first time we have had an elected Mayor in Leicester?
There is no doubt that we have difficult times ahead economically, which will provide many challenges. However, I believe that success can be determined, certainly within the first year, by the public recognising the new structure we have, who their Mayor is and agreeing that it was the right decision to elect a Mayor.

Voter apathy is a problem in politics. With just a 41% turnout for your election what can be done to combat this?
This election created more interest in politics than any I have been involved in – and there have been more than a few! I think the process helped to put politics at the forefront of people’s minds. We had hustings almost every evening, sometimes twice in a day and we had people debating real issues, which can only be a good thing.

How important a role does sport and health play in Leicester?
Sport is a crucial part of life for many people in Leicester. We are so fortunate to have top class sports teams such as the Tigers, City, the cricket club, hockey and basketball amongst others. I am also excited about the Leicester Sports Partnership Trust. We now have the major clubs around the table discussing their plans and working together to improve sport and health in the city.

You were said to be opposed to the plans for the Football Investment Project at Aylestone Meadows. What were your reasons for this?
Yes, I was opposed, and I felt that it was a waste of time and resources to just push ahead with the proposal. I stand by my views and I am delighted that we now have a new option in Riverside College, which is now out of the consultation period.

Do you have a message for the sports leaders within Leicester?
Clearly they have their own focus and targets as they have businesses to manage. I am pleased, though, that we are able to communicate through the Leicester Sports Partnership Trust and I want them to know that I look forward to working with them all.

How will you cope with the pressure and expectation of the role?
We have targets to deliver and I have my own standards that I set and will stand by. It is a challenging role, but I have been in politics for a long time and I aim to serve the Leicester public to the best of my ability.

How do you relax away from politics?
I don’t think it is possible to completely switch off, especially with modern technology and media allowing everyone to communicate wherever they are. I often send emails to myself as reminders for the following day. I enjoy running, although don’t have the chance to do it as often as I used to and I am blessed with a large family, with three daughters and six grandchildren, so I try to spend as much time with them as possible.

Finally, what message do you have for the people of Leicester?
I settled here and decided to stay in Leicester after completing my education and I fell in love with the city. I am extremely proud of Leicester and we have so much to offer. I want to listen to the people and deliver for them. This is a great place to live but there is hard work ahead for us all.

For more information on Sir Peter please visit www.petersoulsby.org or www.leicester.gov.uk/citymayor