A BRADFORD MP has accused the West Yorkshire Combined Authority of failing to deliver for the people of Bradford after Freedom of Information statistics 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 (WYCA), 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 £94,666,594 to Calderdale.

A WYCA spokesperson, however, has said the figures "do not present a full picture" and noted they represent completed projects and not schemes which have yet to begin construction or are underway now like Darley Street Market.

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.”

A West Yorkshire Combined Authority spokesperson said: “These figures do not present a full picture of the funding that has been allocated for transport across West Yorkshire because they only represent schemes that have been completed and so exclude funding allocated for schemes that haven’t started construction.

“In addition, there is another quarter-of-a-billion pounds approved by the Combined Authority to be spent in the Bradford district. Schemes like the Transforming Cities Programme, One City Park and Darley Street market are on site now, as well as planned schemes in Silsden and Shipley.

“We are working hard to build a better-connected region and that will involve prioritising investment to all five districts as we create a West Yorkshire that works for all.”