People from across West Yorkshire will be heading to the polls on May 2 to vote in the local elections – but will also be electing the West Yorkshire Mayor.
Candidates are standing from a range of different parties, as well as independents, with voting set to take place across Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. The Mayor makes decisions in Yorkshire ranging from transport to housing, so the role is an important one.
As a result, its important to know what your options are at the ballot box.
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Here are all the candidates standing for election across West Yorkshire.
Tracy Brabin
(Image: WYCA)
Tracy Brabin is the current incumbent West Yorkshire Mayor and is standing as the Labour Party candidate for re-election to the role. She is campaigning on her record, saying she is proud of what she has achieved so far.
So far, Tracy Brabin says she has secured 1,000 green jobs for young people, capped bus fares at £2, recruited 890 new police officers and staff and supported the building of thousands of new affordable homes. She has also begun the process to bring buses back into public control.
In the future, she has also said she wants to:
- Build 5,000 affordable new homes by 2028
- Bring all buses under local control by 2028
- Begin construction of a tram network by 2028
- A new skills and training system
- A strategy to reduce serious violence on the streets of West Yorkshire
- Increase access to culture and sports for children
- A programme to retrofit all social homes by 2038
Bob Buxton
(Image: Reach plc)
Standing for the Yorkshire Party, Bob Buxton is also working to become the next Mayor of West Yorkshire. He is campaigning for stronger local powers in Yorkshire and says his experience as an engineer will help in the role.
He says he wants to work to reverse cuts from Westminster, saying the county needs a new transport deal. He argues that projects are frequently announced and then cancelled in West Yorkshire and that new leadership is needed.
Bob Buxton says he wants to:
- Set up a West Yorkshire Travel Pass to improve public transport
- Begin work on a West Yorkshire Metro
- Specialist colleges to work on green technology, health and social care and digital industries
- Lower crime through zero tolerance, farer funding for more frontline police, build community relations with more youth centres and inter-community events, make roads safer and lead an open, accountable and responsive police service
- Regenerate derelict sites wit more housing, work on new infrastructure such as GPs, dentists, schools and transport
- Solar panels and insulation for new homes and green subsidies for existing homes
- A rent guarantor scheme
Andrew Cooper
(Image: Andrew Cooper)
As the Green Party candidate, Andrew Cooper says he wants to put the environment first in the county. He is also campaigning alongside Mothin Ali, his nomination for the role of Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, saying he wants to do things differently and make sure people know his nominee before the election.
He is campaigning on the environment, particularly around protecting green spaces and creating green homes.
Andrew Cooper has said he will:
- Make sure there are decent homes for everyone by refurbishing old homes and creating new ones to provide quality jobs
- Protect green spaces and push for development on brownfield sites first
- Invest in reliable, accessible and affordable public transport
- Ensure new safe walking and cycling infrastructure built
- Invest in green housing and transport to provide 1000s of green jobs
- New apprenticeships to provide training and skills
- Give people more of a say in local policing priorities and help to tackle speeding and dangerous driving while making sure the police represent all communities
- Call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to violence in Palestine and Israel and to speak up for West Yorkshire internationally
Arnold Craven
Arnold Craven is standing as the Conservative Party candidate for the role of West Yorkshire Mayor. He is standing in opposition to the current plans for buses in the region and on his past experience as a businessman.
He has hit out at the current plans for bus franchising in West Yorkshire, saying it is too expensive for the region . He added that while the bus system had let people down, the new plans could cost people money.
As for his plans for West Yorkshire, Arnold Craven has said he aims to:
- Build a bus network that works today
- Begin construction on a new tram system
- Make sure West Yorkshire Police investigate every serious burglary and violent crime
- A Mayor’s Bursary that works for working age people
- New high quality housing on brownfield sites
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Stewart Golton
The Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor is Stewart Golton, who is campaigning for change across the region. He says he has 25-years of experience as a councillor and so knows what has to be done to get change
Steward Golton says he will prioritise getting more police on the streets and improving buses. He also said he would work on economic growth that was not at the cost of communities and the countryside.
His priorities are:
- Growing community policing teams
- Hold bus operators to account
- Make sure economic investment works for communities and the countryside
- A fair deal for disabled residents including access to pavements, green spaces, housing, employment and public transport
- Safer communities, connected communities and communities with opportunities
Jonathan Tilt
(Image: Jonathan Tilt)
Jonathan Tilt is the only independent candidate standing for election as West Yorkshire Mayor. He is campaigning against climate measures and he says as an independent he will only be accountable to the people of West Yorkshire.
He is also campaigning to not implement any net zero measures and says he will donate his salary to community sports clubs.
Jonathan Tilt says he will:
- Only take 50% of the £106,000 a year salary and donate the rest to community sports clubs
- Not implement any net zero measures
- Focus funding on developing skills in West Yorkshire
- Ensure policing is focused on crime and not political agendas
- Oppose future lockdowns
- Protect the rural economy against attempts to reduce food production
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