BRADFORD Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe is the latest politician to announce their intention to run to be Mayor of West Yorkshire.

Cllr Hinchcliffe, a Labour Councillor for Windhill and Wrose, made the announcement over the weekend.

She intends to run as the Labour Candidate for West Yorkshire’s first mayor – a role that will be created due to a recent devolution deal. Voters are due to go to the polls to elect the mayor in May 2021.

Cllr Hinchcliffe, who become Council leader in 2016, is also the Chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Much of the Combined Authority’s powers are likely to be taken on by the West Yorkshire Mayor.

Powers being devolved to the West Yorkshire mayor include funding for transport and infrastructure schemes and adult education and training funds.

Cllr Hinchcliffe played a major part in negotiations for the Devolution deal.

Announcing her bid, Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “I was fortunate enough to get a good education at a state-run comprehensive school in Bradford, before becoming the first person in my family to go to university and get a good job. Yet far too many people across West Yorkshire have been denied these opportunities. This is not through lack of ability nor for want of trying, but because of an unfair system that is heavily stacked against them and which needs tearing down for good.

“The Covid crisis is ripping through our communities and continuing to do untold damage by widening already gaping inequalities in health, education and income.

“We have no time to lose in tearing down this rotten system and replacing it with something better. Therefore, when the Mayoral Authority starts next May, we need to hit the ground running.”

Batley and Spen MP Tracey Brabin has also announced her intention to run as Labour candidate for West Yorkshire Mayor.