‘Yorkshire must have a mayor’

YORKSHIRE could soon have its own mayor if a cross-party group of politicians get their way.

Eighteen Yorkshire councils are backing plans for a directly elected mayor so the county – home to more than five million – can grasp opportunities for growth.

Campaigners hope the Government will back the “One Yorkshire” plan, but senior Conservatives are concerned it could hand power to Labour.

The mayoral election could take place as soon as 2020 but first council leaders must agree about the powers of the mayor, following a public consultation.

The plan – which could unlock up to £10.4billion extra in exports per year – also needs to win Government support and pass through Parliament.

Conservative MP Robert Goodwill, who represents Scarborough and Whitby, said he relished the prospect of a “good clean fight”.

He said Yorkshire is “missing out” because it does not have anyone who can fight for investment at a time when fellow Conservative and ex-John Lewis boss Andy Street has been elected the first Mayor of the West Midlands.

Andrea Jenkyns, the Tory MP for Morley and Outwood, said the “right person with the right vision could do amazing things”.

But Conservative MP Philip Davies, who represents Shipley, argued that the plan will not work because of Sheffield and Rotherham’s support for the separate Sheffield city region.

He was also concerned by the thought of a Labour politician in the top job.

He said: “[If] you got some Unitenominated Momentum member, it would be a complete catastrophe.

“Businesses wouldn’t be clambering to get into Yorkshire – they’d be clambering to get out.”