Labour mayor candidate Richard Parker's five key manifesto pledges

Labour’s mayoral candidate said it’s time for a “fresh start” in the West Midlands as he unveiled his manifesto this week. Richard Parker, a former partner at accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, says his key pledges include creating 150,000 jobs and training opportunities; revitalising high streets; fixing the housing crisis and tackling anti-social behaviour.

Mr Parker will face opposition from incumbent mayor Andy Street, the Conservative candidate, as well as those running for the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK and an independent when the election takes place on May 2. The mayor represents around 2.8 million residents and is expected to seek investment and act as a champion for the region.

“This is Labour’s positive plan for a fresh start in the West Midlands to reach every corner of our region and make a difference to every life,” Mr Parker said as the manifesto was published on Friday, April 19. “This campaign is about making a step change, refocusing the combined authority on delivering for the hard-working people of this region.

READ MORE: West Midlands Mayor debate live as six candidates face your questions

“We’re going to do things differently, things that people can see in front of their eyes that improve their lives". On his pledge to bring buses under public control, he continued: “Buses will help drive our economy taking people to the jobs they need, the skills they want, to the high streets and across communities.

“Buses tackle loneliness, help with our environment and will make a huge difference to people in every part of the West Midlands". He continued: “After eight years of a Conservative Mayor, we’ve got little to show for all of his promises.

“I’m fearless but not reckless and I’ve spent 40 years already delivering for this region - I can’t wait to show people the difference that a Labour Mayor can make". Here are five key pledges from Richard Parker’s manifesto.

1) Create 150,000 jobs and training opportunities

If elected, Richard Parker says he will guarantee a high-quality apprenticeship to every young person who wants one. He also wants to provide support for those who want to retrain into new roles and build the skilled and experienced workforce “businesses need to thrive”.

“You shouldn’t have to leave where you live to have a career,” his manifesto said. “That means supporting people into work and ensuring they have the skills and transport to access well paid jobs.”

2) Revitalise high streets and bring back pride

As mayor, Mr Parker said he would fund new market stalls for traders and give councils powers to take back empty shops for new businesses. He has also pledged to introduce banking hubs so that all residents and businesses have access to a high street bank.

“We are proud of where we live,” his manifesto says. “We will back our pride to secure additional investment for safe and vibrant high streets, crack down on retail crime and anti-social behaviour and work with councils, traders and Business Improvement Districts to increase security measures.

“No place will be left behind.”

3) Tackle crime and anti-social behaviour

If elected, Mr Parker says he would work with councils and the Police and Crime Commissioner to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in the region. He also wants to introduce town centre patrols to make high streets “safe again”, recruit 650 more police and deliver a Women’s Safety Unit to address violence against women and girls.

On crime, Mr Parker’s manifesto reads: “It is vital to ensure that criminals are brought to justice, victims feel supported and communities across our region feel safe. People across our region tell me that tackling crime and effective policing are top priorities for them.”

4) Bring buses back into public control

Another one of Mr Parker’s pledges is to ensure affordable fares, reliable buses, and improved safety. If elected, he also intends to build a London-style integrated transport network and work with communities to design the bus network they need.

“Our vision for public transport is to offer safer, healthier, greener, and more efficient mobility options to meet the needs of our growing population and support our industrial strategy,” Mr Parker’s manifesto says. “We need a properly-funded, fully-integrated public transport system to work better to give residents better access to local services, education and jobs, spend less time travelling, reduce pollution, and tackle the climate emergency.”

5) Fix the housing crisis and crack down on rogue landlords

If elected, Mr Parker has pledged to build 20,000 extra homes in the region by 2031, introduce a landlords register and ensure good, safe, and warm homes. Mr Parker’s manifesto says: “It simply cannot be right that in 2024, in the second biggest region in one of the richest countries in the world, thousands of our children are living in cold, damp homes with mould.

“Our vision is for the West Midlands to have high-quality homes, built to high energy efficiency standards, and inclusive neighbourhoods.”

You can find a list of all of the mayoral candidates and a glimpse of what they stand for here.

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