Tracy Brabin wins first-ever West Yorkshire mayoral election

Tracy Brabin has been elected as the first-ever Mayor of West Yorkshire.

The Labour candidate was declared winner of the county’s history-making mayoral election following counts at Leeds’s first direct arena and other local venues today.

Votes were cast on Thursday in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield, with an overall turnout figure of 36.5 per cent.

Ms Brabin secured victory over second-placed Matt Robinson (Conservative) by 310,923 votes to 209,137 votes, after the counting of both first and second preference votes.

The total number of first preference votes cast for each candidate was:

• Tracy Brabin (Labour) – 261,170
• Matt Robinson (Conservative) – 176,167
• Bob Buxton (Yorkshire Party) – 58,851
• Andrew Cooper (Green) – 55,833
• Stewart Golton (Lib Dem) – 30,162
• Waj Ali (Reform UK) – 14,943
• Thérèse Hirst (English Democrats – “Putting England First!”) – 8,969

The Mayor of West Yorkshire will have a similar role to the Mayors of Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region and other regions in England that have secured devolution deals. 

With special responsibility for areas such as transport, housing and finance, the Mayor will work alongside the leaders of the councils in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield to help make the county an even better place to live.  

The election will also change the way police and crime matters are overseen in West Yorkshire, with the Mayor taking on the functions of the Police and Crime Commissioner, supported by an appointed Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime.

A full breakdown of results from the mayoral election can be found at https://www.leeds.gov.uk/your-council/elections/west-yorkshire-combined-authority-mayoral-election-results.

ENDS