Labour announces West Midlands metro mayor candidate

The West Midlands metro mayor election will take place in May 2017

Labour has announced its candidate for the first West Midlands metro mayor.

After an initial shortlist of five candidates, the party has elected former Birmingham MP and current West Midlands MEP Sion Simon.

The metro mayor will represent Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.

Mr Simon will have nine months to campaign for the position ahead of an election in May 2017.

Labour is the first party to announce its candidate.

Both the Conservatives and UKIP told the BBC they are not as far along in the process.