A DEAL to see West Yorkshire secure major new powers over its own destiny has never been closer.

Political leaders are now poised on the brink of a major deal which would see key decisions over the economy, skills, transport and investment made not in Whitehall but in Yorkshire.

In return, the area covered by the deal would have to have a London-style elected mayor to act as an accountable figure overseeing these new powers.

A proposed announcement over devolution to our county and beyond may be a mere four months away, but big questions over how it will look are still very much up in the air.

The Government is locked in discussions with local leaders about which area of Yorkshire would be covered by a deal, what powers would be handed over and what strings would be attached.

A fierce debate is raging between those who want two separate deals for the Leeds and Sheffield city regions and others who would rather see devolution brought to a wider Yorkshire region.

But everyone seems to be agreed on one thing - the loosening of London's control in favour of more local decision-making is an exciting opportunity, which is set to provide a major boost to the regional economy.

For one campaigner, the importance of devolution is both practical and philosophical.

Stewart Arnold, vice chairman of the Yorkshire Devolution Movement pressure group, said he was of the firm belief that where possible, decisions made about the lives of Yorkshire people should be taken as close to home as possible.

But he said gaining new powers from the Government would also bring a real economic boost, helping to rebalance a British economy far too centred on London and the south east.

He said: "It's really a question of rebalancing the UK economy, and at the same time allowing decision-making in Yorkshire for things that affect Yorkshire people."

The negotiations are being led by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), which is made up of the leaders of Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield, Kirklees, Calderdale and York councils.

For Councillor David Green, Labour leader of Bradford Council and a member of WYCA, one of the most important opportunities would be so-called fiscal devolution - the ability for the region to retain more of the taxes local people pay, and also to raise their own money through further taxation.

DEVOLUTION SERIES

He said this could see the area less dependent on shrinking Government handouts.

He said: "We want to ask for greater devolved powers and the authority to raise our own money for infrastructure projects so that we are not totally dependent on simply an ever-reducing sum coming down to the area, but are the masters and mistresses of our own destiny, to an extent."

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader of the Liberal Democrat group at Bradford Council and an opposition member of WYCA, said: "The devolution ask is bigger than it has ever been before. I think it is an exciting time, if we can get powers away from Government."

Cllr Sunderland said it came down to the basic question of who should hold power over people's lives.

She said: "As a Liberal Democrat, my philosophical stance is that power is given from people who elect representatives to exercise that power on their behalf.

"It's not power that belongs to Government, that we have to wrest off them."

Councillor Simon Cooke, leader of the Conservative at Bradford Council, said: "Two things really matter here. One is gaining a much stronger voice for Yorkshire in the corridors of power.

"And I think hopefully the benefit we get from that is an economic one, in other words it's good for business and jobs."

Devolution is a central tenet of Chancellor George Osborne's vision of a Northern Powerhouse - connecting the cities of the north to create an economic engine to rival London.

In this month's Budget, he confirmed he was working with leaders in West Yorkshire on "far reaching devolution of power in return for the creation of directly elected mayors".

He has said he hopes to announce a devolution deal for West Yorkshire in his Autumn Statement, at the end of November.

But exactly what that deal will look like is still anyone's guess.

HOW THE DEVOLUTION DEBATE HAS PLAYED OUT SO FAR

May 2, 2012: Voters reject idea of elected mayor for Bradford in a referendum;

July 9, 2013: Bradford Council agrees to part of a new 'super authority' for West Yorkshire on transport and regeneration matters - a Government condition of securing a major investment deal for the Leeds City Region;

March 17, 2014: MPs agree to the creation of the new super-council, called the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), in a deal which includes a £1billion transport fund, a £400 million economic investment fund and ultra-fast broadband;

June 23, 2014: Chancellor George Osborne announces that regions can secure "serious devolution of powers and budgets" if they agree to have an elected 'metro mayor', an idea West Yorkshire leaders are opposed to;

September, 2014: The Scottish independence referendum sparks a wider public debate over devolved powers to English regions;

November 3, 2014; Greater Manchester secures a major devolution-and-mayor deal with the Government. The Chancellor says any other areas wanting similar deals must accept the 'metro mayor' model, but West Yorkshire figures on both left and right remain opposed to the idea;

December 5, 2014: Then-Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls urges regions not to back down to Mr Osborne's "foolish" demands for metro mayors, saying they won't be a condition of devolution if Labour wins the General Election;

March 18, 2015: With no agreement over the prospect of a mayor, the Government strikes a limited devolution deal with WYCA, handing it greater influence over investment decisions on skills, transport and business. WYCA chairman Councillor Peter Box brands it "disappointing";

May 14, 2015: Following the Conservatives' victory in the General Election, the WYCA publicly backs down in its stand-off with Government over an elected mayor for West Yorkshire. Shortly afterwards, Bradford Council leader Councillor David Green begins a local public consultation into the idea of having a mayor to secure greater powers;

November 24, 2015: The Chancellor is set to unveil a wide-ranging devolution deal for West Yorkshire in his Autumn Statement.