A SENIOR politician says there is unlikely to be a devolution deal for this part of Yorkshire announced in tomorrow’s budget.

But Councillor Peter Box, chairman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said “nothing would make me happier” if he was proved wrong and Chancellor Philip Hammond announced a deal to devolve powers to the Leeds City Region.

Cllr Box, leader of Wakefield Council, told the Telegraph & Argus that a deal covering the City Region – which includes Bradford – remained his preferred option and urged the Government to push this through, despite the objections of those opposed to the plan.

But he said the combined authority was also open to other ideas for how to devolve powers to Yorkshire.

Northern Powerhouse Minister Andrew Percy said the Government was committed to delivering its devolution deal for Sheffield.

He urged the rest of Yorkshire to come up with a deal or deals which had broad support from councils, MPs and businesses.

He said as MP for Brigg and Goole, his personal view was that a deal should be done “on the broadest possible geography”.

He added: “We can’t have a deal that cuts off bits of Yorkshire from other bits of Yorkshire.”