West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin's response to the budget

Responding to the budget, Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“This is a budget for working people that will give families across West Yorkshire some much needed breathing space, from the scrapping of standing charges on energy bills and £100 in people’s accounts, to money off the weekly shop and fairer parental leave.

“The Government is backing our ambitions with £300 million to transform Leeds station and investment in the Leeds College of Building, the use of Artificial Intelligence across our public and private sector alongside community protections around data centres, and for our bid to bring the Olympics to the North of England.

“Radical devolution of income tax will mean we no longer have to go cap in hand to Whitehall, and the changes made to business rates means we’ll keep more of the West Yorkshire pound here in West Yorkshire.

“These new financial flexibilities will help to drive the development of Leeds South Bank and Bradford Southern Gateway to deliver thousands of homes, create a better-connected region, and build a region of learning where everyone has the skills they need to succeed."