Here is a list of all the candidates standing for election to become West Yorkshire Mayor on Thursday 2 May 2024.
We’re writing to all the candidates to ask them about why they are standing and what their policies are. We will publish their answers as they send them in so keep checking back to compare answers and make your choice.
Unlike the last Mayoral election 2021 which used use the ‘Supplementary Vote’ system, this election will be ‘First past the post’ like most elections in the UK.
We are not organising a hustings meeting for the West Yorkshire Mayoral election, but the BBC did. You can watch it on the iPlayer at: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001yggb/a-mayor-for-west-yorkshire
Tracy Lynn BRABIN
Labour & Co-operative Party
Address in Kirklees*
To serve as your Mayor has been the greatest privilege of my life and I am proud of my record of delivering for West Yorkshire. In 2021, I made ten pledges ahead of the election. I am pleased to be able to say that I have delivered on every single one of those pledge, including:
- Securing over 1,000 new green jobs for young people
- Bringing buses under local control and capping fares at £2
- Recruiting 896 new police officers and staff
But I am only just getting started.
I know we can achieve so much with another 4 years. If re-elected I have a plan for our region:
- To build 5,000 new affordable homes
- To bring every bus into local control and get spades in the ground on a tram network by 2028
- Institute a “region of learning” with a new skills and training system
- Work with police to develop a new strategy to reduce serious violence on our streets
- Increase access to culture and sports for every child
- Roll out a programme to insulate all social homes in West Yorkshire.
Bob BUXTON
Yorkshire Party
Address in Leeds*
Housing
I’ll regenerate derelict sites with new housing. More homes mean lower rents and prices, and can end shortages in social housing, retirement homes and starter homes. We also need new infrastructure with new housing, GPs, dentists, schools and transport.
I’ll provide solar roof panel and insulation for new homes and green subsidies for existing homes.
Many would-be tenants find it difficult to find a home, especially without a long record of having paid rent. I’ll introduce a local authority rent-guarantor scheme, and to bring tenants and landlords together.
Transport
I’ll use my experience in engineering to deliver a West Yorkshire Metro, with elevated and underground sections, to cut through congestion. It will deliver quicker journeys than trams and buses.
I’ll also introduce a Yorkshire Pass, to use across all forms of public transport, delivering the best deals with no need for advanced booking, no peak-time hikes and no cross-border penalties.
Crime
The Police must uphold the law without fear or favour.
Burglaries, shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and road crime have been allowed to rise.
No crimes should be tolerated.
Tactical Vote
A Yorkshire Party win will shake Westminster into action and bring fairer funding for Yorkshire.
Andrew Varah COOPER
Green Party
76 Brockholes Lane, Holmfirth, HD9 7EB
Arnold Eric CRAVEN
The Conservative Party Candidate
Address in Wakefield*
I was born in Leeds, my dad was from East End Park in east Leeds, and my mum was born and raised in Pontefract.
After a childhood where I grew up, for a time, in a really tough council estate in south Wakefield, I became one of the first people in my family to go to university. I’ve built a successful career in property and infrastructure, and I am now a senior manager at a multi billion pound energy infrastructure company.
I live near Thornes Park in Wakefield, and when I’m not standing to be Mayor, I spend my time riding motorbikes and struggling to cook the perfect steak.
Across my career I’ve been involved in bringing over £300 million private sector investment to West Yorkshire. I’m standing as Mayor because I want to put that professional experience to use, and use the powers of the Mayor to actually deliver things for West Yorkshire. I’ve lived here all my life – I think one of the biggest issues our region faces is that there’s a bit too much talk from politicians, and not quite enough action. I will change that.
You can read more at www.acforwestyorkshire.co.uk
Stewart GOLTON
Liberal Democrats
5 Farrer Lane, Oulton, Leeds, LS26 8JP
Jonathan Richard TILT
Independent
Address in Kirklees*
We’ve got higher taxes and worse public services. Politics clearly isn’t working or at least it isn’t working for you and me. This isn’t plain incompetence- although there is an abundance of that. Politics as practised through political parties isn’t meant to work for us it’s meant to serve those who fund the parties.
The extra mortgage interest, energy charges, food costs and council tax that you are now paying. Where is this money actually going to? Who benefits? Follow the money and you will find the answers.
The only solution is to stop voting for political parties. It doesn’t matter which party you vote for red or blue, small or big. They will deliver the same. More taxes and less public services.
Electing me as Mayor of West Yorkshire won’t change the world overnight. But it will send a message that the parties are over and that the people plan to take back control from the corrupted Westminster system. I will serve you not them. As a starter I will take 50% of the obscene mayoral salary of £106,000 and donate the balance to local community sports clubs across our great county.
Be independent. Vote Independent.
Jonathan Tilt
* In England, if a candidate has requested not to make their home address public, the relevant electoral area in which their home address (or country if their address is outside the UK) will be provided.