West Yorkshire Mayoral election 2024: Live updates as count gets underway

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The result of the election for West Yorkshire mayor is set to be announced today (May 4).

Voters headed to the polls on Thursday (May 2), when they were asked to choose between six candidates to become the next Mayor of West Yorkshire. They were -

  • Tracy Lynn Brabin - Labour and Co-operative Party
  • Bob Buxton - Yorkshire Party
  • Andrew Varah Cooper - Green Party
  • Arnold Eric Craven - Conservative Party Candidate
  • Stewart Golton - Liberal Democrats
  • Jonathan Richard Tilt - Independent

The current Mayor of West Yorkshire is Tracy Brabin, who was the first person to take on the role back in 2021.

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This will be the second election of a person into the role, which was created as part of a devolution deal agreed by the leaders of the five councils in West Yorkshire.

People in Leeds cast their votes for the next Mayor of West Yorkshire on May 2. Photo: James Hardisty.People in Leeds cast their votes for the next Mayor of West Yorkshire on May 2. Photo: James Hardisty.
People in Leeds cast their votes for the next Mayor of West Yorkshire on May 2. Photo: James Hardisty. | James Hardisty

Today’s count follows the results being received yesterday in the Leeds City Council elections.

The count is expected to begin later today.

Follow our live blog below for the results and reaction -

Who are the candidates?

The candidates in the election for Mayor of West Yorkshire are -

  • Tracy Lynn Brabin - Labour and Co-operative Party
  • Bob Buxton - Yorkshire Party
  • Andrew Varah Cooper - Green Party
  • Arnold Eric Craven - Conservative Party Candidate
  • Stewart Golton - Liberal Democrats
  • Jonathan Richard Tilt - Independent

When will the winner be announced?

The results for the 2024 West Yorkshire Mayor Election are expected at around 3.15pm today, Saturday, May 4.

What is the mayor's role?

The Mayor of West Yorkshire’s role includes housing and planning, as well as powers to put together a “spatial development strategy”. It also includes housing and land acquisition powers to support regeneration and infrastructure development.

The mayor is allowed to set a precept on council tax to fund mayoral functions. This is an extra payment placed on top of regular council tax, such as is currently used for police, fire and parish councils.

An elected mayor also has the power to draw up a local transport plans and strategies, the power to request local regulations requiring large fuel retailers to provide electric vehicle charging points. This gives the mayor bus franchising powers.

The current mayor, Labour’s Tracy Brabin, has held the title since 2021, and is hoping to be re-elected today.

Counting has started

Counting is now underway!

Bradford Council have revealed the voter turnout for the West Yorkshire Mayoral election:

Electorate: 375,488

No. of ballot papers verified: 126,485

Percentage turnout: 33.7%

Counting is underway in Huddersfield

Counting is underway at Cathedral House in Huddersfield.

Voter turnout in Kirklees is as follows:

Electorate: 317,939

No. of ballot papers verified: 111,102

Percentage turnout: 34.94%

Only 24.93% of those eligible to vote in Wakefield appeared at the polling stations on Thursday.

West Yorkshire voter turnout

The total turnout across West Yorkshire for the Mayoral Election is 32.71%, Leeds City Council reveals.

Kirklees is the first council to reveal its election results, with Tracy Brabin winning with 47,897 votes.

Tracy Brabin at the Leeds Mayoral election count

Tracy Brabin spotted at the count today at the John Charles Centre in Leeds. Results are expected at around 2.30pm.

Steve Riding/National World

Labour and Co-operative Party candidate and current Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin has won the vote in Wakefield with 37,415 votes.

Declaration of West Yorkshire mayor local totals for Wakefield

  • Tracy Lynn Brabin, Labour and Co-operative Party: 37,416 votes
  • Bob Buxton, Yorkshire Party: 6,985 votes
  • Andrew Varah Cooper, Green Party: 4,791 votes
  • Arnold Eric Craven, Conservative Party: 10,657 votes
  • Stewart Golton, Liberal Democrats: 2,064 votes Jonathan
  • Richard Tilt, Independent: 3,732 votes

The results in Bradford are in:

Tracy Lynn Brabin, Labour and Co-operative Party - 55,878 votes.

Bob Buxton, Yorkshire Party – 9,791 votes.

Andrew Varah Cooper, Green Party – 14,394 votes.

Arnold Eric Craven, Conservative Party Candidate – 19,206 votes.

Stewart Golton, Liberal Democrats – 5,758 votes.

Jonathan Richard Tilt, Independent – 19,889 votes.

Tracy Brabin has just won a second term as the Mayor of West Yorkshire!

West Yorkshire Mayoral election results

Here are the total number of votes cast for each candidate in the West Yorkshire Mayoral election 2024:

  • Tracy Brabin (Labour) – 275,430
  • Bob Buxton (Yorkshire Party) – 47,937
  • Andrew Cooper (Green) – 66,648
  • Arnold Craven (Conservative) – 82,757
  • Stewart Golton (Lib Dem) – 27,501
  • Jonathan Tilt (Independent) – 46,443

Tracy Brabin took to social media to thank everyone who voted for her, saying: “Wow, the people of West Yorkshire have spoken!

“What an incredible privilege to be re-elected as your mayor.

“We've already delivered so much in the last three years; Getting the ball rolling to bring our buses back under public control, securing over 1,000 green jobs for young people, getting dedicated police officers on public transport to keep people safe.

“But with four more years, we can deliver so much more to build a brighter West Yorkshire that works for all. Thank you, everyone.”

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And that’s a wrap for this year’s mayoral election here in Leeds and West Yorkshire.

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