West Yorkshire’s devolution deal has been “scuppered” by “gerrymandering to the Conservatives”, Kirklees’ leader has claimed.

Clr David Sheard has hit out after a devolution deal agreed with the government was hi-jacked by North and East Yorkshire politicians.

The original deal reflected the so-called Leeds City Region area, which encompasses Kirklees, Calderdale, Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield along with Harrogate, York, Skipton and Selby.

It was in line to be the second deal done after Manchester agreed its terms earlier this year.

But pressure from Tory led rural areas has seen a bid to expand the geography of the West Yorkshire’s deal to a so-called Greater Yorkshire plan, including Hull and the former North and East Ridings.

A third bid to marry Hull alone with the Leeds City Region is also on the table.

In an email to all Kirklees councillors seen by the Examiner, Clr Sheard reported West Yorkshire leaders had made no progress on the matter at a meeting at the Treasury in October.

“While others are receiving their deals, we are still in negotiations...” said the frustrated council leader on his official blog.

Clr Sheard told the Examiner he dubbed the inflated plan as “Lesser Yorkshire” as he thought it would water down the effect of devolution.

Council leader Clr David Sheard

But he said West Yorkshire’s council leaders were hopeful the original deal could still be done.

“It was all going well and then North Yorkshire put their oar in,” he said.

“West Yorkshire leaders have said quite clearly that we had a deal.

“It’s been scuppered by North Yorkshire leaders and East Yorkshire. They’re being pushed by their MPs (to be included).

“My view is how can it be ‘Greater Yorkshire’ when it excludes South Yorkshire.

“It’s been scuppered because somebody is playing politics.”

Clr Sheard said the influences of North and East Yorkshire would undermine the effectiveness of devolution plan – designed to bolster the so-called Northern Powerhouse.

He said: “If you look at their priorities it’s about their farmers, rail between Harrogate and York and building a dual carriageway to Scarborough.

“None of that is going to create growth for us and there’s hardly any rates going in as farmers don’t pay any or pay fuel duty.

“92% of the economic activity in Yorkshire is in West and South Yorkshire – if the government want to see growth that’s where it will come from.

“They want to suck money out of West Yorkshire to pay for their infrastructure.”

Clr Sheard said West Yorkshire leaders were also wary of the demand to have an elected mayor, but it was a price worth paying if they could get their way.

“I’m in favour of devolution, I think everybody is,” he said.

“They’re saying we can’t have it without an elected mayor.

“Everyone in West Yorkshire voted against elected mayors a few years ago.

“The danger is someone could get in power for four or five years, who we have no control over.

“We’ve asked that they don’t have a veto and we want the same cash deal that South Yorkshire got – but yes we would bite the bullet.”

Clr Sheard said the plan would be discussed at Kirklees Council, probably mid next year, but said the Conservatives had all been “told what to do”.

But he said he was not currently worried that the whole thing would collapse.

It is hoped Yorkshire devolution would create thousands of new apprenticeships and improve infrastructure.

Kirklees is hoping for cash to free up congestion at Cooper Bridge and other commuting links for residents who work in Manchester and Leeds.

A South Yorkshire devolution deal including Sheffield and parts of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, was signed last month.

Factfile:

Devolution offers regions freedom and power over policies and money to implement them.

Deals have already been signed with Manchester, Cornwall, South Yorkshire and the North East.

The Yorkshire deal would see councillors take control of spending on transport, housing, and job creation.

No bid to take control of health spending has been included in the Yorkshire proposals.

Leaders say their priorities would be a mass-transit system, doubling the level of house building and creating a NEET free region (Not in education, employment or training).

On the web tomorrow: Local Tories hit back