A lot of talk about leasehold in the national media today.
Let me be clear.
As Mayor of West Yorkshire I will look extremely unfavourably on any proposed leasehold scheme - unless the leaseholders are given a share of freehold and there is only a peppercorn ground rent 🏡
In my parliamentary campaign I very deliberately avoided NIMBYism.
People deserve decent, affordable places to live and our country needs to be able to build the infrastructure we require to drive growth and prosperity.
Opposition must be thoughtful.
As people may be aware, Jeremy Lunn, the announced Conservative Candidate for Wakefield & Rothwell, has withdrawn due to ill health.
The local Conservative association has selected me as their new candidate for this wonderful constituency - a place I am proud to call home.
Clearly was not meant to be, but a massive thank you to the tens of thousands of people who put their trust in me to be their next Mayor.
After months of tweeting about public transport and brownfield regeneration, it is now time for a break. Skyscanner awaits…
🚨The polls are open🚨
It has been an honour to meet so many brilliant people from across West Yorkshire in the last weeks and months.
I believe I’m the person to deliver mass transit, more homes, policing improvements and a better bus system.
Polls close at 10pm ✅
Ground rents - that are not of the peppercorn variety - constitute, in my view, textbook rent-seeking behaviour.
Leaseholders in West Yorkshire, who often are young people getting on the housing ladder for the first time, should not be subject to such behaviour 📈
Whilst disappointing that the sun only emerged after Mayoral election campaigning came to a conclusion, there’s a real joy in having time - and good enough weather - to tidy up my garden and plant some mini-trees.
I’m incredibly concerned to learn that construction has been halted on the new White Rose station in Leeds, leaving behind a half finished railway station.
The Mayor needs to provide leadership in situations like these. No comment is not good enough.
Many years ago, before I started my career in property, I studied a Politics degree.
That’s why, as candidate for Mayor, I was especially keen to visit the village of Overton, West Yorkshire.
A fascinating Window into how people’s views on the Mayoralty have changed since 2021.
Great to be out in Baildon today with
@RicHolden
, talking to voters about electing a Mayor of West Yorkshire who has the private sector experience needed to deliver mass transit, brownfield regeneration, world class adult education and police who are there when you need them.
Brownfield schemes in Leeds have been a huge success, delivering regeneration and much needed new homes 🏡
But land values are much higher in Leeds than most of West Yorkshire, so in our other cities and towns brownfield developments are harder to achieve.
This could help.
Fantastic day of campaigning, with leaflets going out and doors being knocked on across towns and villages in West Yorkshire.
A small plea, and I think I speak for people in all parties when I say this: Please try to avoid buying a door with a low down letterbox. My knees…
It has been an amazing pleasure to meet so many incredible voters, business leaders, Councillors, MPs, and many others in West Yorkshire over the last ten weeks.
An entirely unique, occasionally bruising, but always brilliant experience.
A big thank you to the excellent
@LeedsCC_News
Electoral Services staff for their diligent and professional service today,
@susannabenton
.
I am pleased to say my nomination to stand as Mayor of West Yorkshire has been accepted. Now back to the campaign trail! ✅
Really good to speak to ITV Calendar yesterday about bus reform in West Yorkshire 🚐
We now need to build a brilliant franchised bus system whilst not hurting the poorest in society through tax rises ✅
As Mayor of West Yorkshire I will work across the political divide to call for Postcode Address File data to be made more accessible to our great West Yorkshire tech sector, so they can continue to innovate and lead the world ✅
Whilst disappointed that a waterlogged pitch meant the WF derby was postponed, it was a great pleasure to meet with
@PonteCollsFC
committee member Charlie this evening to discuss the great work the non-league football family does across West Yorkshire.
Today, we have announced our plans to expand our presence in Leeds. We will expand the Leeds office by at least 500 employees by 2027. The increased office space aims to improve trust and wider understanding of the Bank’s work across the UK.
Read more:
Every organisation has challenging people, but I’ve found Conservative associations to be filled with kind, hard working members doing their best in often difficult circumstances.
Pointing the finger at associations might be easy, but it is also incorrect.
'When I told an MP I was finding it quite hard to deal with some of the people in the associations, he replied: 'Yes, they are all mad'.' ✍️ Lauren Atkins
Excellent to enjoy some sun whilst campaigning with
@JasonMcCartney
and
@DavidMHeathcote
in lovely Meltham today.
Lots of great conversations with residents about making sure the West
Yorkshire Mayor delivers on issues like housing, transport, policing and adult education ✅
Fantastic to be at the West Yorkshire Mayoral business hustings today, ably hosted by
@gregwrightYP
.
I was heartened that there was broad consensus between the candidates about the importance of delivering housing and mass transit. In West Yorkshire it isn’t whether we should
Today I’ve had an incredibly concerning meeting, alongside Cllr Alan Lamb, with tenants of Aire Street Workshops - which is threatened with closure - in Leeds.
A full video is coming soon, but Aire Street Workshops is a massive asset for West Yorkshire - home to over 50
NEWS: Today I am launching my plan for a Mayor’s Bursary, where as Mayor of West Yorkshire I will use the devolved adult education budget to fund thousands of adult learners to complete courses in subjects including plumbing, accountancy and welding.
Excellent to meet with members of the Hindu community in Wakefield & Rothwell a few days ago. There is much to commend about their Hindu manifesto, especially in areas around education and recognising the great contributions of the Hindu community to the UK
@hindus4dmocracy
A massive pleasure to speak to the West Yorkshire Hong Kong community this lunchtime. I am in absolute awe of the courage and bravery of many people I’ve met today.
When you complete your election nomination papers, there’s an extra form you can sign to hide your address on the ballot paper.
I really didn’t want to fill in that form - but behaviour like the below is why I felt compelled to.
Turning up at someone’s house is unacceptable.
🚨 BREAKING: Youth Demand Pay
@Keir_Starmer
a Visit
Whilst 12,000 children in Gaza are slaughtered,
@UKLabour
continue to allow the selling of arms to Israel. We are calling on their humanity.
🤝 We won't stand for this. Donate to help us take action:
This is my plan for West Yorkshire.
1) A bus network which works and mass transit under construction
2) A police service which turns up when you need it
3) A world class adult education system, accessible to all
4) Building more houses
Really good to pop down to Dewsbury this afternoon to catch up with Conservative Council candidate Sajid Hussain and local businessmen.
As Mayor I will work to make sure good quality growth and economic opportunities come to every part of West Yorkshire ✅
I'm really looking forward to attending the opening ceremony of this very important exhibition next week.
I would encourage people to attend the exhibition at Leeds City Museum whilst it runs between late March and early June.
#HongKongers
🌟
#HongKongers
in the
#UK
: A Journey of Hope and Resilience
#ArtExhibition
The Opening Ceremony will be held on 20 April at 12:00 noon, featuring honourable guests as keynote speakers.
Please RSVP to
@HKers_in_Leeds
to secure your place.
More on:
Central and Eastern European countries voluntarily chose to join NATO.
Those who promote the argument that NATO expansion provoked Russia might want to ask why those countries were so eager to join.
Great to be out this afternoon in Morley with
@andreajenkyns
supporting two excellent Leeds City Council candidates: Alexander Giles in Morley South and Lalit Suryawanshi in Morley North. Best of luck for next Thursday!
Yesterday I raised concerns about the ongoing closure of Bradford Interchange’s bus station 🚍
This is a ridiculous situation, and the Labour Mayor of West Yorkshire needs to explain how her Combined Authority has allowed this to take place.
An outbreak of West Yorkshire cross party consensus, having found myself sitting with
@BobBuxtonYorksP
on the train.
Really interesting conversations about how we can best deliver West Yorkshire mass transit.
Yesterday I was on ITV outlining my pledges to:
Change the way we regenerate brownfield sites to deliver more new homes 🧱
Build mass transit 🚉
Improve adult education and offer more access to courses ✏️
Make sure the police investigate all serious crimes 👮
Great to be out in a (very cold) Woolley this morning with
@mark4dewsbury
. An absolutely beautiful part of West Yorkshire.
Lots of people really keen to talk about delivering new housing, infrastructure and making sure our police have the tools they need to keep us all safe.
It was a real pleasure to meet Jeremy Lunn, Conservative Candidate for the new Wakefield and Rothwell Parliamentary Constituency, and discuss with him my plan for West Yorkshire.
As Mayor I will focus on housing, infrastructure, adult education and crime ✅
This is an issue not made in the last fourteen years, but the last 80 (at least).
Facing up to the economic reality of the UK outside London - and making the fundamental changes needed to address that reality - is of the utmost importance for everyone in politics.
This is deeply depressing.
But we need to remember the UK is an international outlier when it comes to the economic dominance of its capital city.
That dominance is one of the reasons situations like the below are so acute.
Why can’t the Leeds - Manc economy rival London’s?
This week I had the privilege of seeing the incredible things Bradford tech company Yeme is doing 🖥️
But small policy changes could aid the tech sector. Having seen a presentation from
@thomasforth
on this, I know improving access to PAF could help tech businesses grow 📈
One of the issues I’ve seen so much in West Yorkshire over the last few weeks is working people in their 20s and 30s who want to develop their careers, but because they have a job they are priced out of further education. My Mayor’s Bursary will change that.
Where the West Midlands has gone, West Yorkshire should follow ✅
With a relentless focus on better working with the private sector to unlock funding and investment, as Mayor I will make West Yorkshire the best place in the UK for brownfield regeneration and house building 🏡
The WM has set the pace for housebuilding in the UK, including:
🎯 Building & affordable targets smashed
🌳 Greenbelt protected
But I want to go further👇🏻
🏡 Tripling the number of social homes
🏗️ Unlocking homes along transport routes
✋🏻 Cracking down on rogue land owners
Absolutely excellent turnout in Dewsbury this afternoon, supporting my campaign to be the next Mayor of West Yorkshire and Sajid Hussain for the Dewsbury West ward of Kirklees Council.
A brilliant reception from people across Dewsbury.
Ahead of the West Yorkshire bus franchising decision this week, I wanted to outline my position❓
The starting point for me is that bus services across West Yorkshire are not good enough. Delays, cancellations and buses just not turning up mean people can’t rely on the bus
Brilliant to meet Calderdale Conservative members, officers and councillors this evening in Halifax ✅
As Mayor of West Yorkshire I will make sure West Yorkshire Combined Authority properly invests to ensure all of our towns and villages can thrive 📈
Delighted to announce I am the
@Conservatives
candidate for Doncaster Central! I was born in Wheatley and I have been a local councillor for Bessacarr for the last nine years! The new seat has different boundaries so it’s a great opportunity for a fresh start 👍
#Doncasterisgreat
I don’t make a habit of retweeting my Mayoral opponent, but I am pleased Tracy has signed the
#CivilityPledge
. I have also taken that pledge.
The Mayoral election here is about ideas. Sometimes robust, of course, but civil and respectful. That is a good thing for West Yorkshire.
With only days to go before May elections, I’m taking the
@JoCoxFoundation
’s
#CivilityPledge
. I will run a respectful campaign, promote constructive democratic debate and defend the dignity of others. I hope all other candidates do the same.
#MoreInCommon
I wouldn’t dream of attacking my opponents based on their physical characteristics. You play the ball, not the man (or woman). Really disappointing to see.
'Has he finally realised that when he stabbed Boris Johnson in the back to get his mate into number ten, he was ditching their biggest election winner for a pint-sized loser?'
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner mocks Rishi Sunak at
#PMQs
Great to host Levelling Up Minister
@JacobYoungMP
in Pontefract Conservative Club last night. A really positive evening topped off with an excellent speech from Jacob.
As Mayor of West Yorkshire I’ll work to make sure every part of our region feels the benefits of devolution ✅
Last year my motorbike was stolen from Wakefield. There was CCTV but I couldn’t even get West Yorkshire Police to attend. That is not good enough.
That’s why I’m happy to sign the
@MAGUKCentral
Fight Motorcycle Theft pledge.
As Mayor of West Yorkshire, I will give West
🚨Aire Street Workshops closure🚨
Today, Cllr Alan Lamb and myself had the pleasure of visiting Aire Street Workshops in Leeds.
We were blown away by what an incredible asset the workshops are for West Yorkshire, hosting over 50 creative, small businesses and acting as…
If you live in Ponte, Cas, Knottingley, Altofts, Darrington, Carleton, Ferrybridge, Airedale… frankly anywhere in PCK you already know what it will be like if you return the same MP tomorrow: exactly the same as it’s been for the last 3 decades.
I’m offering a real local choice
It was really useful to meet representatives of housing associations across West Yorkshire this morning.
As Mayor one of my main focuses will be making sure we build more good quality homes on brownfield sites, for both rent and sale, across our region 🏡
This is a campaign I am happy to support. Values like democracy, freedom and territorial integrity are the cornerstone of the relative peace Europe has enjoyed since 1945, and especially post the collapse of the Warsaw Pact. Russian aggression must not be rewarded.
Dear
@ACinWY
, I had the pleasure of getting to know you during my time at Leeds University and know you are a firm friend of Ukraine and the cause of Ukrainian victory. I would be honoured to have your support for
@UKFriendUkraine
#UkraineMustWin
campaign.
I would prefer to see an early commitment to a Wakefield district link, but the most important thing is that construction starts on something.
Once spades are in the ground there will be no going back, and it will be much easier to make an argument to grow the network.
Trams are on their way!
It’s time to have your say.
Help us build a better connected region. Fill in our consultation and tell us what you think about our proposals for phase one of Mass Transit in West Yorkshire ⬇️
#WYMassTransit
Now I don’t want to tempt fate, but I enjoyed the placement of this screen at today’s excellent BBC Yorkshire Mayoral debate, ably hosted by
@BBCJamesVincent
It was absolutely fantastic to speak at Shipley Conservative Club this evening. A brilliant turnout and great questions on everything from housing and crime to infrastructure and economic development.
Great to catch up with Beckie and Mark from the CBI this week, talking about all things West Yorkshire.
The CBI has published a West Yorkshire manifesto, and I am really impressed with their focus on getting things done.
We’ve had a lot of talking in West Yorkshire. Now it’s
There will be a lot of pontificating in the days ahead as to whether the Conservatives were too centrist so lost Reform votes, or too right wing so alienated the centre.
But what I saw through the campaign accords much more with the below charts. Competence was the
#1
issue.
Key chart to keep in mind as the Conservatives suffer their worst ever defeat:
The Tories didn’t lose this election because they were too right wing on some issues or too left wing on others.
They lost because voters of all stripes judged them to be incompetent and dishonest.
Down at the Houses of Parliament today, talking about investment in research and development, and how that can bring high salary, great jobs to towns and cities across the UK 📈
As West Yorkshire Mayor I will use my business experience to bring big investment to our region 💷
I’ve always tried to treat my political opponents with courtesy and respect. In my experience the vast majority of people in politics are there because they want to do good - our differences are usually about how best to do that good.
This interaction is great to see.
Great to speak to journalists this afternoon now West Yorkshire has made the decision to franchise buses 🚐
The decision has been made. It isn’t what I would’ve done - I would’ve tried EP+ first - but it has happened. Two things must come next:
The Mayor and Council Leaders
I am incredibly concerned about the White Rose Railway Station situation.
This WYCA project risks becoming a case study in how not to build infrastructure.
We need leadership and a clear timetable for work concluding.
A massive congratulations to
@NickFletcherMP
and
@NickAllen1987
who I know have been tireless in their campaigning to save Doncaster Airport.
This is good step in the right direction and good news for every part of Yorkshire.
#SaveDSA
Excellent to be joined by the Prime Minister in West Yorkshire yesterday.
I was delighted that the PM had a lot to say about the Championship promotion race, given his love of Southampton.
Although as an
@LUFC
fan, I’m clear I’d much prefer to be on 76 points than 70…
It was really good to visit
@54northhomes
excellent Railway Street housing development in Leeds today. That scheme is an exemplary example of the type of brownfield development I will encourage as Mayor.
Today we welcomed mayoral candidate Arnie Craven
@ACforWY
to our Railway Street development in
#Leeds
We're proud to be part of
@WYHousing
who have offered to meet all the election candidates to discuss the region's housing priorities & how we're key to solving the housing crisis
I will be voting for
@NickAllen1987
for South Yorkshire Mayor.
Nick is a fantastic
#Conservatives
representative, who puts constituents first.
Civility
Professional
Respectful
Got a stakehold in South Yorkshire, vote
#Conservatives
I will make West Yorkshire a great place to construct high quality homes on brownfield sites.
But developers must do their bit as well. As Mayor I would expect new apartments, if built for sale, to come with a share of freehold as standard.
As Mayor, I will work with the five councils to identify suitable brownfield sites for development - then we will agree Local Development Orders (LDOs) for those areas. 🙌
LDOs will reduce the uncertainties of planning and make it easier to build the homes we need 🏡
I’ve been thinking a lot about this since meeting with Aire Street tenants yesterday.
I’m not usually shocked, but I genuinely can’t believe Labour controlled Leeds Council wants to commit this act of cultural and economic vandalism, and the Labour Mayor is nowhere to be seen.
Today I’ve had an incredibly concerning meeting, alongside Cllr Alan Lamb, with tenants of Aire Street Workshops - which is threatened with closure - in Leeds.
A full video is coming soon, but Aire Street Workshops is a massive asset for West Yorkshire - home to over 50
In West Yorkshire we talk about mass transit. In the West Midlands they build it.
That needs to change.
West Yorkshire needs a reliable, efficient mass transit system. As Mayor, that’s what I’ll deliver 🚉
Great progress on the Metro on Kings Street in Dudley 💪🏻
The metro extension to the Town Centre will open THIS YEAR, creating much better public transport links for the Black Country 👏🏻
This extension has been talked about for years - but we’ve stepped up and made it happen ✅
Genuinely brilliant to see an electric train running on part of the Transpennine line, east of Manchester.
There’s still a long way to go, but this is a big step forward towards a clean, fast, electrified railway link between West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester 🚆
🚆 Last week, we successfully tested an electric train between
#ManchesterVictoria
&
#Stalybridge
.
🏆This marks a significant step towards a fully electrified line through this area by the end of the year⚡️
Fine out more➡️
@northernassist
I’m delighted to have been selected as Conservative Candidate for West Yorkshire. West Yorkshire Mayor is one of the best jobs in British politics, and I believe West Yorkshire is already the best place in the UK. 1/2
Rejoice! After I challenged the Mayor on this a comment has now been provided.
I build infrastructure for a living. I know infrastructure projects only succeed when they enjoy strong, professional leadership.
If I was Mayor yesterday, I would have said:
“Stopping work on the
I’ll be talking on LBC News throughout today discussing my vision for West Yorkshire, and how I will focus on:
Delivering mass transit, not just talking about it 🚉
Building more houses 🏘️
Achieving world class adult education 📚
The police turning up when you need them 👮
Whilst London focussed, this is interesting for the whole UK.
Brownfield must play a key role in addressing the housing crisis, but we need to have an honest conversation about what ‘Green Belt’ really is.
Not all of it is beautiful, unspoilt fields.
🗞️ Our polling on the 🏡 crisis is in today’s Sunday
@Telegraph
We found that there was net support for building on metropolitan green belt land if a proportion of the profit was given to locals
It was great to pop down to Wakefield and deliver leaflets with
@NaeemFormuli
and
@samharveyrural
this week.
It’s very clear that voters are questioning the performance of our regional government - the Mayor and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
It is very concerning, and saddening, to see an important building on a major street in Leeds City Centre collapse. Only luck means no one was hurt.
Questions must be asked of the building owner, and Leeds City Council, to understand how this came to pass.
Sad to see the collapse of this building on Kirkgate. We’ve been frustrated at the lack of progress in restoring the oldest street in the city and this is what happens when heritage buildings are neglected. Thank goodness nobody was hurt
And now we are done. Polls have closed!
A massive thank you to everyone who has gone out to leaflet, door knock, phone bank and, ultimately, vote for me.
Now we wait until Saturday ✅
Absolutely excellent evening with Batley and Dewsbury Conservatives.
Wonderful to see so many supporters as we reach the final days of the Mayoral campaign.
Pass a short Bill closing Twitter down in the U.K.
@Keir_Starmer
? There is more than enough reason to do so. One of the richest men in the world is using his platform to cause serious harm - putting lives & communities at risk.
@YvetteCooperMP
@lisanandy
I don’t like making it look like I have something to hide on the ballot paper.
I live in a normal end terrace within walking distance of Wakefield City Centre.
But when boundaries of reasonable behaviour towards politicians are breaking down, what choice do people have?