West Yorkshire mayoral election 2024 candidates confirmed

Voters will decide the new West Yorkshire mayor on 2 May

The six candidates in the running to become the new mayor of West Yorkshire have been confirmed.

The vote to decide who will be elected to the position will be held on 2 May.

The mayor of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority represents all five of the region's local authority areas and its two million residents.

Voters have until Tuesday 16 April to register to vote for the ballot, with the winner likely to be declared on Saturday 4 May.

The candidates are:

• Andrew Cooper - Green Party

• Arnold Craven - Conservative Party

• Bob Buxton - Yorkshire Party

• Jonathan Tilt - Independent

• Stewart Golton - Liberal Democrats

• Tracy Brabin - Labour and Co-operative Party

Ms Brabin is the current mayor, having been in post since 2021 when she became the first-ever West Yorkshire mayor.

In West Yorkshire, the position was created in 2021 following a devolution deal agreed between the area's five local councils and the government.

That 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.