Yorkshire can have local control without mayors, Cameron pledges

Prime Minister David Cameron meets apprentice Cory Hurst (right) during a visit to Camira Fabrics in Huddersfield, where they make textiles for trains and buses.

Speaking to The Yorkshire Post during his first visit to the region since the official start of the election campaign, the Prime Minister said that cities such as Leeds and Sheffield would not lose out in devolution deals if they did not opt in to the system.

It comes after Lord Heseltine warned that Leeds will remain in the second tier when it comes to devolution unless it copies Manchester’s metro mayor model.

Mr Cameron said: “If areas want to come together and have a mayor then they should do so if it is right for them, but if they choose not to there will still be that availability of money and powers.

“If you take Leeds’ city deal, it is twice the size of the London city deal and represents a record level of investment. It involves more money and more power.”

When challenged to match Ed Miliband’s pledge to bring back the role of a minister for Yorkshire in the next Government, Mr Cameron refused, yet insisted the region’s importance is not lost on his colleagues in Westminster.

Real-time coverage on our Election Diary

FULL ELECTION COVERAGE

• Interactive battlegrounds map

• Election Diary

IN FULL: OUR YORKSHIRE MANIFESTO...

• Introduction

• Devolution for Yorkshire

• Making business and finance prosper in Yorkshire

• Educating our youth for all our futures

• Care and Wellbeing of our Elderly

• Making Yorkshire’s transport fit for purpose

• Our agenda for Arts, Sport, Culture and Tourism