West Yorkshire

[Admin Twaddleford]

West Yorkshire

[kvasir]

Mayor of West Yorkshire... *Rolls Eyes*

What sweet hell is this. I note also less powers than Greater Manchester too just to rub salt in the wound.

Well, regardless. Looking at the statistics, Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale all have Labour Leaders. The five metropolitan boroughs locally do have a history of Labour voting but also other parties have had strengths in the past. On a national level they were relatively consistently Labour. Looking at 1997, 2010 and 2019:

Election Year	Registered Electorate	Labour Party	Conservative Party	Liberal Democrats	Other
1997	1,551,621	581,256	310,247	139,007	45,382
2010	1,551,413	376,359	330,486	208,279	90,523
2019	1,647,175	497,235	429,429	66,310	88,138

Like many places in the North, the Conservatives saw an increase in their vote. There is evidence of traditional Labour voters moving towards the Tories while some more Liberal inclined voters moved to Labour, which helped to keep that Labour vote up. It is not clear how robust that result will be over a year from now. We have no idea how the Brexit transition plays out and it is likely that that could have a larger consequence than anything.

Labour also has a pickle in terms of selection. Leeds is the largest single block of members though they are divided between left-wing and moderate voters. This is the city with Rachel Reeves in one inner city seat and Richard Burgon in another. In general the city currently tends to pull in a centre-left direction, more business friendly than your average Labour member but you definitely wouldn't be calling it a moderate Labour centre. But there is an issue going with a Leeds candidate and that is that the other four boroughs do not want to be seen as "an extension of Leeds". It is doubtful they could find a unity candidate. I suspect Leeds Labour would, in the name of unity, go with someone else if they look good. But it's not clear with whom they would go.

It is clear though that this is not a done deal for Labour. Turnout will be crucial. Bradford in particular can have ups and downs and their votes are not guaranteed. I don't need to remind people of the Bradford West fiasco. But it is definitely a two horse race and with the stupid mayor voting system *Rolls Eyes even harder*, that could be very helpful for Labour. Again though, don't count the Tories out here.

[timrollpickering]

Mar 15, 2020 21:39:27 GMT kvasir said:

Mayor of West Yorkshire... *Rolls Eyes*

What sweet hell is this. I note also less powers than Greater Manchester too just to rub salt in the wound.

Sounds like the West Yorkshire Combined Authority councils wouldn't agree to as much devolution.

We used to have forum members merely confused about the power distribution in districts/counties and in the devolved nations. Metro devolution seems a recipe for obscure political pub quizzes with numerous different combinations of powers. How the public is supposed to get their head around this is beyond me.

But there is an issue going with a Leeds candidate and that is that the other four boroughs do not want to be seen as "an extension of Leeds".

At some point the metro areas (is that the right term) are going to have to grapple with the fact that one city is well known outside the local area, gives the metro area its identity and will draw interest and investment. The Liverpool and Sheffield City Regions have already accepted the necessity of this (and Greater Manchester sorted it out back in the 1970s). Others cannot complain when they get beaten for investment.

[Deleted]

Mar 15, 2020 21:39:27 GMT kvasir said:

Mayor of West Yorkshire... *Rolls Eyes*

What sweet hell is this. I note also less powers than Greater Manchester too just to rub salt in the wound.

Well, regardless. Looking at the statistics, Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale all have Labour Leaders. The five metropolitan boroughs locally do have a history of Labour voting but also other parties have had strengths in the past. On a national level they were relatively consistently Labour. Looking at 1997, 2010 and 2019:

Election Year	Registered Electorate	Labour Party	Conservative Party	Liberal Democrats	Other
1997	1,551,621	581,256	310,247	139,007	45,382
2010	1,551,413	376,359	330,486	208,279	90,523
2019	1,647,175	497,235	429,429	66,310	88,138

Like many places in the North, the Conservatives saw an increase in their vote. There is evidence of traditional Labour voters moving towards the Tories while some more Liberal inclined voters moved to Labour, which helped to keep that Labour vote up. It is not clear how robust that result will be over a year from now. We have no idea how the Brexit transition plays out and it is likely that that could have a larger consequence than anything.

Labour also has a pickle in terms of selection. Leeds is the largest single block of members though they are divided between left-wing and moderate voters. This is the city with Rachel Reeves in one inner city seat and Richard Burgon in another. In general the city currently tends to pull in a centre-left direction, more business friendly than your average Labour member but you definitely wouldn't be calling it a moderate Labour centre. But there is an issue going with a Leeds candidate and that is that the other four boroughs do not want to be seen as "an extension of Leeds". It is doubtful they could find a unity candidate. I suspect Leeds Labour would, in the name of unity, go with someone else if they look good. But it's not clear with whom they would go.

It is clear though that this is not a done deal for Labour. Turnout will be crucial. Bradford in particular can have ups and downs and their votes are not guaranteed. I don't need to remind people of the Bradford West fiasco. But it is definitely a two horse race and with the stupid mayor voting system *Rolls Eyes even harder*, that could be very helpful for Labour. Again though, don't count the Tories out here.

Leeds does seem quite well represented in Labour's broad church. You've got moderates like Rachel Reeves and Hilary Benn, then more left wing MPs like Richard Burgon and Alex Sobel

[bjornhattan]

Mar 15, 2020 22:39:01 GMT timrollpickering said:

Mar 15, 2020 21:39:27 GMT kvasir said:

Mayor of West Yorkshire... *Rolls Eyes*

What sweet hell is this. I note also less powers than Greater Manchester too just to rub salt in the wound.

Sounds like the West Yorkshire Combined Authority councils wouldn't agree to as much devolution.

We used to have forum members merely confused about the power distribution in districts/counties and in the devolved nations. Metro devolution seems a recipe for obscure political pub quizzes with numerous different combinations of powers. How the public is supposed to get their head around this is beyond me.

But there is an issue going with a Leeds candidate and that is that the other four boroughs do not want to be seen as "an extension of Leeds".

At some point the metro areas (is that the right term) are going to have to grapple with the fact that one city is well known outside the local area, gives the metro area its identity and will draw interest and investment. The Liverpool and Sheffield City Regions have already accepted the necessity of this (and Greater Manchester sorted it out back in the 1970s). Others cannot complain when they get beaten for investment.

West Yorkshire is more polycentric than those other examples though - Bradford and Huddersfield are both fairly large town centres. Granted, it's not as bad as Tyne and Wear (where the economic strength is roughly evenly split three ways, though Gateshead has seemingly given over much of its influence to Newcastle), but it isn't as simple as somewhere like Liverpool which doesn't really have a secondary centre.

[jamie]

If you live in the Liverpool City Region then you can reasonably identify as Liverpool, same with Greater Manchester, Tees Valley, North of Tyne (Newcastle). However, I’m not sure many people from Halifax or Huddersfield would say they live in Leeds.

[finsobruce]

Mar 16, 2020 8:59:58 GMT jamie said:

If you live in the Liverpool City Region then you can reasonably identify as Liverpool, same with Greater Manchester, Tees Valley, North of Tyne (Newcastle). However, I’m not sure many people from Halifax or Huddersfield would say they live in Leeds.

Probably none, but you could reasonably describe it as a regional centre.

[timrollpickering]

Would they say they live in the West Yorkshire Combined Authority?

[finsobruce]

Mar 16, 2020 9:17:31 GMT timrollpickering said:

Would they say they live in the West Yorkshire Combined Authority?

It's fun to stay in the WYCA, it's fun to stay in the WYCA.

[Admin Twaddleford]

Mar 16, 2020 9:01:02 GMT finsobruce said:

Mar 16, 2020 8:59:58 GMT jamie said:

If you live in the Liverpool City Region then you can reasonably identify as Liverpool, same with Greater Manchester, Tees Valley, North of Tyne (Newcastle). However, I’m not sure many people from Halifax or Huddersfield would say they live in Leeds.

Probably none, but you could reasonably describe it as a regional centre.

Definitely none.

There's a Facebook group called something like "I'm from Bradford. Where's that? It's next to Leeds...oh"

[greatkingrat]

Mar 16, 2020 9:19:08 GMT finsobruce said:

Mar 16, 2020 9:17:31 GMT timrollpickering said:

Would they say they live in the West Yorkshire Combined Authority?

It's fun to stay in the WYCA, it's fun to stay in the WYCA.

Maybe they should create a Yorkshire Mid Combined Authority?

[finsobruce]

Mar 16, 2020 13:09:31 GMT greatkingrat said:

Mar 16, 2020 9:19:08 GMT finsobruce said:

It's fun to stay in the WYCA, it's fun to stay in the WYCA.

Maybe they should create a Yorkshire Mid Combined Authority?

Genius. Let it be so.

[hullenedge]

If all this had been known 50 years ago we could have retained our Yorkshire boundaries. A mayor for Teesside, a mayor for York and North Riding, a mayor for Hull and East Riding, a mayor for the West Riding with separate mayors for Leeds, Sheffield and Greater Bradford.

[Chris from Brum]

Mar 16, 2020 14:32:34 GMT hullenedge said:

If all this had been known 50 years ago we could have retained our Yorkshire boundaries. A mayor for Teesside, a mayor for York and North Riding, a mayor for Hull and East Riding, a mayor for the West Riding with separate mayors for Leeds, Sheffield and Greater Bradford.

Rugby clubs usually have chairmen and presidents, not Mayors.

[johnyorks]

Mar 16, 2020 9:01:02 GMT finsobruce said:

Mar 16, 2020 8:59:58 GMT jamie said:

If you live in the Liverpool City Region then you can reasonably identify as Liverpool, same with Greater Manchester, Tees Valley, North of Tyne (Newcastle). However, I’m not sure many people from Halifax or Huddersfield would say they live in Leeds.

Probably none, but you could reasonably describe it as a regional centre.

Or base the Mayor in Wakefield, which used to be the ‘regional centre’ in local government. Set his office up in the old police station or even the old court building; they could be repurposed. Otherwise the buildings will probably stand empty for decades.

[Deleted]

Mar 16, 2020 8:59:58 GMT jamie said:

If you live in the Liverpool City Region then you can reasonably identify as Liverpool, same with Greater Manchester, Tees Valley, North of Tyne (Newcastle). However, I’m not sure many people from Halifax or Huddersfield would say they live in Leeds.

yes Rotherham, Donny and Barnsley has no affinity with Sheffield. Even Stocksbridge residents write 'near Sheffield'

[finsobruce]

Mar 30, 2020 17:00:35 GMT johnyorks said:

Mar 16, 2020 9:01:02 GMT finsobruce said:

Probably none, but you could reasonably describe it as a regional centre.

Or base the Mayor in Wakefield, which used to be the ‘regional centre’ in local government. Set his office up in the old police station or even the old court building; they could be repurposed. Otherwise the buildings will probably stand empty for decades.

Always good to re-purpose an old building.

[heslingtonian]

Who are the likely candidates going to be here? Will any big name MPs be interested in standing?

[kvasir]

Mar 30, 2020 17:55:32 GMT heslingtonian said:

Who are the likely candidates going to be here? Will any big name MPs be interested in standing?

Who knows at this point. The West Yorkshire Mayor isn't going to have the same power or strength (de facto or de jure) than Greater Manchester or certainly London.

If I could wave a magic wand and pick anyone I would probably like Yvette Cooper to stand. She seems competent and has a lot of support from Labour from all five of the boroughs. But whether she'd leave her current post as Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee (which is not a non-job) to basically try to divvy up funding to the different areas and deal with the parochial nature of the areas, I don't think so.

If it had the same power as Greater Manchester over things like healthcare that would plausibly be more interesting. In terms of local councillors who would make a great Mayor, Judith Blake, the current leader of Leeds City Council would probably be the most competent. But I don't think the other four would go for it.

There is an interest in making this a non-job, a figurehead role with real power held by the council leaders. If that is the case, expect someone more like Paula Sherriff who's already standing to win. She's been an MP in Dewsbury from 2015 to 2019. She has some support in the local party but isn't a political powerhouse. We shall see.

[neilm]

She's currently starting cancer treatment so that might derail mayoral ambitions for a while.