AN MP has accused West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and the Labour dominated West Yorkshire Combined Authority of failing to deliver for the people of Bradford after figures show nearly eight times more cash was given to neighbouring Leeds.
A Freedom of Information request submitted by Shipley MP Philip Davies also revealed Calderdale was awarded more than double the amount of funding given or promised to Bradford – despite its much smaller population.
The figures, provided by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, break down the capital spending it has distributed in each of the five local authorities in each of the financial years from 2018/19 to 2022/23.
A combined total of the five years show £336,623,815 was committed to Leeds, £43,230,726 for Bradford and £96,66,594 to Calderdale.
Mr Davies said: “Both before Tracy Brabin became the Mayor and afterwards, the trend has been the same - the Bradford district is getting shortchanged in terms of capital expenditure from The Labour dominated West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Mayor, whilst they pour more and more money into Leeds which is like throwing apples into an orchard that is already full.
“We are the second largest area within West Yorkshire and we should be getting our fair share from the Combined Authority. But we have a situation whereby Calderdale, is receiving £51 million more than Bradford. That sum is larger than the entire allocation for the Bradford area, it makes no sense.
“Either Bradford Council are submitting inadequate bids for this capital spending or Mayor Brabin and her Labour colleagues in West Yorkshire are snubbing the Bradford district. It must be one of the other, and I am sure my constituents would like to know which it is”.
Latest census data from the Office of National Statistics, show Leeds has a population of 812,000, Bradford 547,000 and Calderdale 206,600.
Based on allocations and population size it would mean the equivalent of £458 per head in Calderdale, £414 in Leeds and just £79 in Bradford.
