Mike Starkie  Mike Starkie is a British politician who is the Directly-elected Mayor of Copeland, for the Borough of Copeland in Cumbria. He stood as an Independent, winning the 2015 election after coming first due to him beating the Labour candidate after transfer votes (the Conservatives were eliminated after coming last in the first round of votes). He is supportive of Elected Mayors, and has called for a referendum on having an elected mayor for the whole county of Cumbria. Starkie is the first Mayor of Copeland, and his position was established (after a referendum) to replace the role of a Council leader and Cabinet.