West Yorkshire gets ready to vote in its first ever mayoral election
We've been hearing from all the candidates.
Last updated 5th May 2021
Tomorrow, West Yorkshire will vote for its first ever metro mayor.
They will have new powers and funding to make decisions, which affect the region, in the region.
This is what your candidates had to say:
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.