West Midlands mayoral candidates reveal plans ahead of manifesto launch

Labour's Liam Byrne has called for a "bill of rights" for rough sleepers and homeless people, and has also pledged a "zero hunger" West Midlands as part of a new food strategy.

Meanwhile Conservative candidate Andy Street has vowed to demolish eyesore buildings he says are blighting communities across the region.

Mr Byrne said he wants to implement a region-wide approach to tackling homelessness based on the model used in Birmingham.

He has pledged to "bring together all the agencies" and to "collaborate with grassroots groups to ensure that homeless people have their right to a home respected".

"Alongside that, we will establish a Homelessness Bill of Rights including a charter of rights which treats the homeless with respect and as people in need," the Birmingham MP added.

“Specifically, I would also like to see a region-wide campaign to persuade the government to restore housing benefit for the under 25s.”

During a visit to Wednesbury Food Pantry in Friar Park, which is run by Sandwell Council and Open Heaven church, Mr Byrne vowed to make the West Midlands a "zero hunger" region.

He said the scheme, which supports up to 520 people each week, was "a model which could be rolled out across the whole of the West Midlands".

"I believe we should create a ‘Right to Food’ and a target for zero hunger," he added. "I will use an emergency West Midlands budget to get more funding for community food supplies."

Freezers

He pledged to draw up a "food strategy" in the West Midlands, "as London has done", by providing community groups with equipment such as freezers and access to delivery vans.

Mr Street, who is bidding for a second term of office, said a number of derelict Black Country buildings were "top of the list" for demolition if he gets voted in again.

Ravenscourt in Brownhills, The Old Foundry in Fountain Lane, Oldbury and Cookley Works in Brierley Hill are among his priorities for demilotion.

He said: “We have a number of prominent run-down and derelict buildings in the West Midlands that just need to go. These monstrosities not only look shabby, but they also tend to attract anti-social behaviour, graffiti and fly-tipping.

“I’m pledging to get on with demolishing more sites across the region, so that we can replace them with new homes, shops and leisure facilities for local people.

“Demolition is a critical part of my ‘brownfield first’ approach. Let’s not build on our precious green belt – instead we should be regenerating the sites that we’ve already built on and replace these eyesores."

Green Party candidate Steve Caudwell has launched a transport plan, saying trains and buses in the West Midlands were "a complete embarrassment compared to London and Manchester".

He said: "We need a transport system that supports our economy. This means investing in local and regional transport links so that people can get to jobs and business can thrive.

"The Black Country in particular is crying out for a better transport network."

Also standing are Jenny Wilkinson for the Lib Dems, and independent candidates Ashvir Sangha and Tim Weller.

Candidates are due to release their manifestos in the coming days.