Devolution ‘more urgent than ever’

want rural north and east Yorkshire to be included. Those areas have very different priorities to the urban Leeds City Region.

“Unfortunately, the ending of European support in two years’ time, or earlier, will make the region reliant on support from central Government,” said Clr Sheard.

“All the indicators are that we will be left behind. Now the only new investment we seem to attract from central government is the building of a new prison.

“Deals are announced, with and without mayors, in regions smaller and less cohesive than the Leeds City Region, with no track record of delivering or of any partnership working. Deals we are denied.

“Our unemployment rate is lower than Greater Manchester and Greater Birmingham.

“Both these regions, which are a comparable size to Leeds City Region, are performing worse despite being granted devolution.”

He also had a message for the region’s MPs, some of who he has been told are not backing the plans the region has put forward.

“We can only ensure that the region gets a fair deal is all our MPs work together to fight for our share,” said Clr Sheard. “I would urge them to follow Manchester’s approach and start meeting weekly to lobby for our region.”

Clr Sheard’s plea for action comes a few weeks after chairman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Clr Peter Box, called for a “White Rose Brexit” as soon as possible.

Clr Box claimed devolution would make everyone in Yorkshire £600 better off each year, produce 47,000 new jobs working in 35,000 additional modern businesses and would allow 53,000 people to come off benefits.