A NEW devolution deal for Yorkshire has divided opinion among local Tory groups.
The deal for the Leeds City Region was unveiled by Chancellor George Osborne last week, as part of the Budget.
It gives council leaders and businesses greater influence over investment decisions on skills, transport, housing and support for small businesses.
While the announcement was welcomed by Tories in Kirklees, their counterparts in Bradford labelled the agreement "a token gesture”.
Kirklees Conservative leader Cllr Robert Light said the move is “ground-breaking”. He said: “The deal for West Yorkshire is fantastic, with huge investment involved that will mean we are at the heart of the northern hub.”
But Cllr Glen Miller (pictured) Bradford’s Conservative group leader, criticised the deal.
He said: “These proposals look like a cheap imitation of the deal secured by the Greater Manchester region. It all feels like a token gesture, lip service to devolution rather than the real deal."
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