PLANS for 'metro mayors' have been condemned by Shipley MP Philip Davies.

He said the proposal, which would give powers to mayors as part of a wider plan for devolution to cities, was "just another attempt by politicians in the south to pretend they care about the north".

Mr Davies spoke out after the scheme was outlined in the Queen's Speech.

"I have no idea where this plan has come from," he said.

"My constituents want Bradford Council to have fewer powers, not more. In fact we want to get out of Bradford altogether and set up our own council.

"Why on earth does the Government think it is a good idea to give more and more powers to these people who are elected on such a low turnout?

"General Elections tend to receive significantly higher voter turnouts than council elections. If the Government wants to push ahead with its localism agenda it should give more powers to the people who actually got the mandate from their constituents to deploy it."