Bradford Council leader and West Yorkshire Combined Authority chair Susan Hinchcliffe announces she is standing as a candidate for West Yorkshire metro mayor

Coun Hinchcliffe became the head of the council in 2016 and is also chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), which brings together the five councils in West Yorkshire: Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield.

In her position at WYCA she led the team that negotiated with ministers to land the devolution deal - a transfer of powers and a record £1.8 billion in funding from Whitehall to West Yorkshire. The Mayor will be able to improve people’s lives by investing in transport, skills, housing, regeneration and the environment.

Coun Hinchcliffe said: “It’s been a tough decision to make as to whether to run for West Yorkshire Mayor. Bradford district is a wonderful place and I feel privileged to lead the city. But the opportunity to lead the economic renewal of West Yorkshire at such a crucial time for the whole region including Bradford is a role in which I feel could make a real positive difference.”

Her key pledges to win the support of Labour members for the party’s candidacy are focused on equality, prosperity for all communities, a cleaner, greener economy, 21st century transport and housing.

Coun Hinchcliffe already has public support from Halifax MP Holly Lynch, who said: Susan has just got that winning combination of having true socialist Labour values but knowing what it means to put them into action, so that they matter to people and can transform people’s lives.

“She’s got that understanding of detail about how to get what you need from Government to work for the people of West Yorkshire."

Former leader of Leeds City Council Keith Wakefield is also backing Coun Hinchcliffe and said: “Having worked with Susan for many years across West Yorkshire, I know she’s particularly hard working, passionate and sees the bigger picture.

“She worked with me to help get the recognition of the need to improve our trains and buses into the hearts and minds of ministers. That’s been the first step, but Susan is the woman to take this forward. She’s already so well respected nationally and I believe she can lead us in the next stage, into transformation and a more successful economy.”

Deputy leader in Bradford, Imran Khan, said: "I support Susan wholeheartedly. She has been leading this district with confidence and vision for more than four years and has stepped up to make hard decisions during the Covid crisis. She is working incredibly hard to support communities and businesses across the district during this difficult time and is challenging the Government.

"She is incredibly well respected by her peers and thoroughly deserves to be the Labour candidate."

Councillor Vanda Greenwood, Coun Hinchcliffe's ward colleague in Windhill and Wrose, said: "Susan was born to be Mayor of West Yorkshire. She had the vision and determination to get this devolution deal for us in the first place, and she has the knowledge and networks to take the whole of West Yorkshire to the next level.

"She'd be a huge, huge loss to Bradford Council but our loss would be the region's gain."