COUNCIL leader Susan Hinchcliffe says she will be calling on the new Prime Minister to commit to Bradford and the North by their "actions not just their words".

It comes as the T&A and other regional titles are urging Boris Johnson's successor, either Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss: “Don’t turn your back on the North”.

Child poverty is increasing and the gap in public spending between the North and the rest of the country has also widened during the last three years.

Thousands of families are still held back by non-existent transport and a lack of jobs and skills, with inflation chipping away at their living standards.

Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “We believe Bradford District is the number one Levelling Up opportunity in the country.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Bradford Council Leader Susan HinchcliffeBradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe (Image: Newsquest)

"We are a young, entrepreneurial and globally connected district, ripe with potential for growth, but this is all subject to the right level of national investment to match our ambition. 

“As soon as they are in post I will be calling on the new Prime Minister to commit to Bradford and the North by their actions not just their words.

"We are making significant investments locally and we now need to see our ambitions for the district supported by a transformative level of national investment if we are to truly start levelling up as a country.”

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, added: “I’m happy to support the T&A and other newspapers across the North of England.

“Our great towns and cities are full of promise and full of the creative people and businesses who can actually make levelling up a reality. But an over-centralised Government in Westminster prevents us from achieving the ambitions we have and ignores our strengths.

“To any candidate vying to be Prime Minister, I urge them – don’t try to level up the North of England from London. Instead, give local areas the long-term funding and devolved powers they need, and they’ll do it for you.”

Mike Cartwright, Policy & Representation Executive at the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The Levelling Up agenda needs to receive continued backing from the next Prime Minister.

"In a recent meeting with Chamber representatives, Rishi Sunak promised to honour that commitment but we know how quickly ideas can gain and lose favour among the political elite.

"It’s right that the regional news titles hold the candidates’ feet to fire on this, and we’ll continue to do the same."