Kathryn Rita Allsop (12 November 1954 – 6 December 2025) was a British local politician who was the directly elected Mayor of Mansfield from 2015 until the 2019 election when she was beaten by Labour candidate Andy Abrahams by two votes.
Career Allsop first stood for the post in 2002 as a member of the Conservative Party. Allsop left the Conservative party in 2003 to become an "Independent Conservative", describing herself in the local newspaper as "true blue", remaining as president of Mansfield's Conservative Association.Mansfield's only 2 Tory councillors become Independent Conservatives Chad, 17 June 2003. Retrieved 15 November 2019
She later joined the Mansfield Independent Forum and was elected as a councillor in 2011.
Mayor of Mansfield Allsop succeeded Tony Egginton as mayor after beating the Labour party candidate in the 2015 Mayoral election. Her campaign was afterwards subject to a Police investigation after allegations were made regarding potential breaches of electoral law, involving spending more on campaigning than the permitted maximum of £6,969.72. The Crown Prosecution Service's lawyer subsequently confirmed the probe had been dropped due to "...insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.". As Mayor of Mansfield, she was in control of the Mansfield District.How many UK mayors are eligible to be world mayor? Hardly any www.theguardian.com Retrieved 11 August 2018Mansfield one step closer to getting major hotel after council agrees to sell land nottinghampost.com
Involvement in Brexit Party Following her tenure as mayor, Allsop briefly served as an advisor to Merthyr Tydfil council before the agreement of £300 per day plus expenses was terminated when, abruptly, she publicly announced her intention to be the Brexit Party's parliamentary candidate in Mansfield.Expert sent in to help failing Welsh council revealed to be Brexit Party candidate Walesonline, 4 August 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019
Allsop had been recruited as an experienced Independent former local bureaucrat "...to develop and strengthen working relationships across all political groups and between members and officers."Written Statement: Additional support for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Julie James, AM, Minister for Housing and Local Government, https://gov.wales, 27 June 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019 Following Allsop's announcement to stand as an MP without notifying her employer (the devolved Welsh Government), her 'independent' status was fundamentally changed and compromised the basis on which she had been selected, by becoming prominently engaged in national political activity.Written Statement: Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Julie James, AM, Minister for Housing and Local Government, https://gov.wales, 6 August 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019
Welsh Government minister Julie James stated it would be "inappropriate" for Allsop to continue in the role as an independent advisor.
Allsop learned on 11 November of Brexit Party supremo Nigel Farage's decision to withdraw their parliamentary candidates in the 2019 general election from 317 areas having a sitting conservative MP – including Mansfield, where Allsop had planned to stand since before losing her job as an adviser to Merthyr council in August.General election 2019: Brexit Party will not stand in Tory seats BBC News, 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019Former Mansfield mayor and would-be Brexit Party candidate 'heartbroken' at withdrawal Chad, 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019
Death On 8 December 2025, it was announced that Allsop had died at the age of 71.Kate Allsop, former Elected Mayor of Mansfield, passes away Mansfield District Council. Retrieved 11 December 2025
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