The vote for West Yorkshire's elected mayor takes place in May
The mayor has powers over policing, public transport, housing and adult education
Six candidates are to stand in the forthcoming election
Polls will be open on Thursday 2 May between 07:00 BST and 22:00 BST
Arnold Craven says he wants to bring in more private investment to help fund bus franchising, which is due to begin in West Yorkshire in 2027.
The Conservative says it's vital that the cost of bringing the buses into public control doesn't impact the poorest in society by hiking council tax bills.
He pledges he won't rise council tax to pay for franchising if he's elected.
Gemma Dillon
Political Reporter
There are two burning questions when it comes to transport in West Yorkshire; how will bus time tables and reliability be improved and, as the only major European city without one, when will the region get a mass transit system?
Image source, Trevor Gibbons/BBCA lack of reliable public transport is deeply disruptive to people’s lives – commuters are unable to rely on the bus network to get to work on time, to attend hospital appointments or socialise with friends and family.
Solving this problem is key to making sure residents can have access to well paid jobs and the economy of the region can grow.
In one of her final acts as mayor before she began campaigning for re-election, Tracy Brabin took the decision to bring the bus network back into public ownership in the county.
It means the mayor will have more control over the bus routes, timetables and fares – which means the mayor will now be directly accountable for the service.
In March, plans were published for a tram system connecting Leeds and Bradford, which regional leaders say will "revolutionise" the transport network.
Work on the £2bn scheme could begin in 2028. B
But it is not the first time plans have been published for such a system in West Yorkshire with other versions failing.
It is an ambitious project that will cost a lot of money at a time when public finances are stretched - so if this is going to succeed the mayor will have to put pressure on the government to help fund it.
A West Yorkshire man relies on the bus to get him to essential appointments after being in a road traffic accident.Michael Henderson asks the mayoral candidates: “What are you going to do to help people like me get to places like my doctors?"
Independent candidate Jonathan Tilt says crimes on public transport need to be followed up.
He says the issue has been raised by young people he's spoken to.
There are cameras on buses he says, but that the footage is often not used to solve crimes.
Bob Buxton of the Yorkshire Party says if he's elected mayor he would free up 27,000 hours of police time by ending cultural awareness courses officers have to complete.
He says they are ineffective and are simply a "tick-box" exercise.
Green candidate Andrew Cooper says getting young people to have "hope for the future" is "key" to tackling knife crime.
He wants to get young people out of a lifestyle which turns them towards crime.
Conservative candidate Arnold Craven says serving and retired police officers have told him the region's police and crime plan is "confusing".
He says if elected mayor, he will give "more clarity" to the direction of policing in West Yorkshire.
He also says one in 10 of the region's police officers are on restricted duty - a figure he says is too high.
Stewart Golton says the sight of more police on the streets of West Yorkshire would be a "deterrent" to criminals.
He also disputes Ms Brabin's figures.
Labour's Tracy Brabin, who was elected as the county's first regional mayor, says putting more police on the street is key to preventing knife crime.
Ms Brabin says she has exceeded her target of increasing the number of police officers in West Yorkshire by 750 - with 896 extra officers and staff.
Aisha Iqbal
Political Reporter
In West Yorkshire, the mayor’s office is also responsible for overseeing policing and crime.
But the mayor and their deputy don’t run the police force as such, it’s more about holding the police to account, helping set their objectives and buying in extra support for things like helping victims.
Image source, Oli ConstableWest Yorkshire’s Police force is the fourth largest in the country, but it is still under huge pressure with bosses admitting they face "significant challenges" in the next few years.
The overall crime rate in West Yorkshire in 2023 was 129 crimes per 1,000 people, above the national average.
By comparison, neighbouring North Yorkshire had 60 recorded crimes per 1,000 people.
Rates of violent crime and sexual assaults in the region also remain at some of the highest nationally, that’s why the force has specifically written reducing violence against women and girls into its three main priorities,
Operating in a huge area like West Yorkshire also means different cities and districts present various and specific policing challenges, with some areas being anti-social behaviour hotspots, others for burglary or car crime.
In the 2023-2028 policing strategy, West Yorkshire Police says "crime and demand are increasing, both in volume and complexity, the expectations of our communities on policing remain high and financial pressures mean we have to be as efficient and productive as we can be."
The new mayor will need to be the bridge between the police and the communities they serve, balancing reassuring the public, increasing confidence in the force - and helping ensure the force has the resources it needs to get the job done.
A knife crime campaigner asks how West Yorkshire's mayoral candidates will tackle crime.Sarah Lloyd, whose son died in 2013 after being stabbed, said: "Carrying a knife is like carrying a phone to many young people these days.
"What are you going to do to support those victims?"
As well as following with text updates from the debate here, you can listen along or watch it unfold live.
If you click on the arrow next the to the headline at the top of the page (see picture above) it will open up a media player which will stream the debate.
You can also listen to BBC Radio Leeds via the link above too.
James Vincent
Political Editor, BBC Yorkshire
The last time (that I can find) there was an election at the Piece Hall was 1835 and Halifax was so outraged at the result that it became known as “The Broken Window Election”, external.
It’s my job to make sure we have a smashing debate today– but not like that.
We’re about ready to go at the Square Chapel - an arts centre just next door to the Piece Hall. Everything is rigged up and audience ready to put their questions to the politicians.
West Yorkshire elected its first mayor three years ago – now they’re at it again – and what’s fascinating about that is there’s now the chance to hold someone to account for what has been done since 2021.
It’ll be the first real test of whether the idea of mayors has caught on or not. Thirty-five percent of people voted then. Will there be more this time?
On Saturday they’ve got a Stone Roses tribute act playing here at the Square Chapel – today six candidates want to be adored by West Yorkshire’s voters.
BBC Yorkshire Political Editor James Vincent explains how this election will impact West Yorkshire.
Aisha Iqbal
Political Reporter
This is West Yorkshire's second mayoral election.
We’ve had three prime ministers since we last elected a mayor – in fact it was Rishi Sunak, then chancellor, who signed the billion-pound devolution deal back in 2020 which triggered that first vote.
Since then we’ve also come out of the other side of a traumatic pandemic (see the video during the initial lockdown below), the effects which of still linger in our political, economic and social lives.
So this mayoral sequel matters.
More than 1.5 million voters will decide who the next West Yorkshire Mayor is going to be.
They’ll represent a huge area covering the five metropolitan districts of Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield.
It’s a tough job, and a high-profile one. The role demands a trustworthy figurehead, one voice to represent them all - and to show us the money.
The metro mayor model has its critics, but a recent poll by the Centre for Cities think tank suggests 60% of people in West Yorkshire were likely to recognise their elected mayor, compared to 50% for their local MP and just 20% for the council.
But it's not just about the photocalls and the PR machine.
The same poll suggested that transport was the biggest mayoral policy or issue most people in the region related to – and sorting out the region’s buses and trains will remain a hot topic during this campaign, as will crime and housing.
Six candidates are to stand in the election for West Yorkshire's elected mayor, with voters going to the polls on Thursday 2 May.
Image source, Phil Coomes/BBCThe candidates are:
The office of the elected mayor was created in 2021 following a devolution deal agreed between the area's five local councils and the government.
Image source, PETE JEFF/BLOOMBERG/GEOFF GRIFFITHS/GETTY IMAGESThat agreement gives the mayor powers over areas such as public transport decisions, housing and adult skills.
As part of the 2021 deal, the mayor also inherited the office of the West Yorkshire police and crime commissioner, which holds the area's police force to account.
The mayor is able to delegate responsibility for policing to a deputy mayor, who can be appointed rather than elected.
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of BBC Yorkshire’s second mayoral debate.
Last week it was North Yorkshire, this week it is the turn of the candidates who are hoping to become West Yorkshire’s elected mayor.
We’ll bring you all the latest live updates and analysis right here as it happens.
And, of course, you can also hear the debate live on BBC Radio Leeds..
The debate itself begins at about 11:15 BST.