West Yorkshire Mayor criticises ‘disappointing’ levelling up money after ‘decades of underfunding’

Responding to the government’s latest levelling up plans, West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin questioned whether the announced funding was enough after “decades of underfunding”.

Ms Brabin said previous announcements have been “disappointing” and accused the government and Treasury of “just thinking about cost”.

“I know what a secure tenancy can do to enable you to fulfil your potential but it has to be about more than that. It has to be about skills when 50% of the working population don’t have digital skills”, she said. 

She added that in communities not being given funding for new rail stations, their bus services need to be looked at.

However, Ms Brabin was pleased to see a focus on affordable housing as she grew up in social housing herself.