Here's who is running to be West Yorkshire's Mayor

For only a second time, they will also be choosing who the next Mayor of West Yorkshire will be, representing the interests of 2.3 million people across the region.

Heading West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the Mayor works alongside five partner authorities – the councils of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield – on issues including transport, housing and the economy.

The Mayor is also responsible for the functions of the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire and is able to appoint a Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime.

On May 9, 2021, Tracy Brabin became the first elected Mayor of West Yorkshire, and the Labour politician is bidding for a second term this year.

Also bidding for the job are the Yorkshire Party’s Bob Buxton, Andrew Cooper of the Green Party, Conservative Arnold Craven, Liberal Democrat Stewart Golton and Jonathan Tilt, who is standing as an Independent.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is mailing a booklet to all registered electors outlining issues including how you can vote, photo ID which is needed and the voting system, as well as outlining the roles of the Mayor and the authority.

The booklet also gives opportunity for the candidates to put their case to the voters – these are the candidates’ views, not the authority.

Ms Brabin says she is standing on, and aiming to build on if she is re-elected, her record, including her backing, and decision-making on, bringing bus services back under local control.

Ms Brabin has made other pledges for the next four year term including to see 5,000 affordable homes built by 2028, establishing a new skills and training system, setting out a strategy to reduce violence on West Yorkshire’s streets, increasing children’s access to culture and sports and a retrofitting programme for social housing.

Bob Buxton says a “cycle of failure” over cancelled projects needs to change and he has pledged a new transport deal for West Yorkshire including a travel pass which would end cross-border penalties.

Mr Buxton pledges prioritising crime prevention, including a “zero tolerance” policy and more youth centres, recognising a need for education to gear itself to specialisms including green technology, health and social care and digital industries to fill skills gaps and supporting regeneration of derelict sites for new housing.

Andrew Cooper pledges to tackle empty homes, including refurbishment, protecting green spaces including pushing for brownfield sites to be redeveloped for new housing, a green jobs programme including new apprenticeships and he is also calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to violence across that region.

Mr Cooper also pledges community-led policing to tackle local priorities and has already said that if elected Mothin Ali, from Leeds, will be his Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime.

Arnold Craven says he is “a businessman who gets things done”  and while he says West Yorkshire’s bus network has been letting passengers down for years does not believe Council Taxpayers’ cash should be used to fund the newly-agreed franchising system.

Mr Craven pledges West Yorkshire Police should investigate every crime, brownfield sites should be the spaces prioritised for development, construction should quickly begin on West Yorkshire’s new tram system and a Mayor’s bursary to fund courses for working-age people should be set up.

Stewart Golton says he will “fight for a fair deal” for West Yorkshire and believes change is needed including more police on the streets, reliable bus services and economic growth which is “not at the cost of communities and our countryside”.

Mr Golton says his priorities include getting back to “proper community policing”, making bus services work for passengers and giving communities’ opportunities to ensure no-one is “left behind” – a fair deal for residents including access to housing.

Jonathan Tilt says as Mayor he will only take half of the annual £106,000 salary and donate the rest to community sports clubs and says if elected his Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime will  be Suzanne Harbourne, of Leeds.

Mr Tilt pledges to not implement any net zero-based measures, will focus funding on skills “ending the need to plug shortages through immigration”,  to protect the rural economy against attempts to reduce food production and ensure police focus is on crime detection/prevention and “not on political agendas.”

The candidates list in full (as summaries above, alphabetically): Tracy Brabin (Labour); Bob Buxton (Yorkshire Party); Andrew Cooper (Green Party); Arnold Craven (Conservative); Stewart Golton (Liberal Democrat); Jonathan Tilt (Independent).