Keighley and Ilkley MP Kris Hopkins this morning welcomed news that a referendum in the district had rejected the idea of an elected mayor.
It was announced at 6.30am today that 66,283 people had voted against the proposal, and 53,949 in favour. There were 4,414 spoilt ballot papers.
Mr Hopkins, a former leader of Bradford Council, said: “I have been consistent in my opposition to the introduction of a directly elected mayor for Bradford district since the outset and am very pleased that my view has been backed up at the polls.
“The result was reasonably close which suggests that the votes of my own constituents in Keighley and Ilkley, who I know were overwhelmingly against the concept, were the crucial factor in achieving this result.
“Having laid this issue to rest, I believe it is now time to open formal discussions about giving the people of Keighley and Ilkley the opportunity for our own vote to break away from Bradford Council control and chart our own political course.”
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