West Yorkshire Mayor: What you need to know...
This week, West Yorkshire will elect its first ever mayor.
This week, West Yorkshire will elect its first ever metro mayor.
They will have new powers and funding to make decisions, which affect the region, in the region.
They will also be able to represent West Yorkshire on the national stage, making sure the region's 2.5 million voices are heard in discussions that affect them.
Working alongside the region's five councils, they will maximise West Yorkshire's potential as a place to live, work and do business.
"Getting a better deal for West Yorkshire"
Dr. Andy Mycock, a politics expert at the University of Huddersfield, says the new mayor will work with local authorities to make decisions that shape people's lives.
"There's going to be a new West Yorkshire political figure on the national stage. There's a greater sense the new mayor is going to be able to influence Downing Street and influence Westminster, in getting a better deal for West Yorkshire," he added.
However, Dr. Mycock is also concerned about whether people will actually vote. He said: "The turnouts for the elected mayors across England so far haven't been particularly great. There hasn't been an election yet that's actually had over 30 percent of the electorate turning out.
"If people want to be able to feel that they've got some control in the direction in which policy is being made, they're going to have to turn out and vote."
What will the West Yorkshire Mayor do?
Whoever is elected into the job will have four main areas of responsibility, which are currently controlled from Westminster.
Financially, it's the biggest deal of its kind. The Government has committed to providing an extra £1.8 billion in the next 30 years (£38 million a year), to help the Mayor carry out the following functions:
Transport: The responsibilities include roads, buses, rail and active travel (like cycling). They also have responsibility for a proposed Mass Transit System, connecting the region, announced in January.
Skills: They can decide how to spend West Yorkshire's adult education budget, as well as introducing things like apprenticeships and work experience schemes.
Housing: They have powers over the number of homes in West Yorkshire, and an overall strategy for planning permission.
Regeneration: This includes developing infrastructure, having input on things like flood alleviation schemes.
The Mayor will also take on policing responsibilities, helping communities to shape the objectives and priorities of West Yorkshire Police, and holding the force to account.
How the West Yorkshire Mayoral election will work
WHEN: Adults in West Yorkshire will vote on Thursday 6 May 2021, with the result announced on Sunday 9 May. It's slightly later than a normal election result, because of the pandemic.
WHO: There are seven candidates (in alphabetical order): Waj Ali (Reform UK), Tracy Lynn Brabin (Labour and Co-operative Party), Bob Buxton (Yorkshire Party), Andrew Varah Cooper (Green Party), Stewart Golton (Liberal Democrats), Thérèse Hirst (English Democrats - "Putting England First!"), and Matt Robinson (The Conservative Party Candidate).
HOW: Every voter will be asked for a first and second choice on the ballot paper. If no candidates receive over 50% of the first-choice votes, the two choices are combined to elect the winner.
WHERE: Every adult in West Yorkshire who is registered to vote should receive a card with the address of your polling station before 6 May. If not, you can also find where to vote by clicking here.