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| Ex-John Lewis boss Andy Street defends £1m mayor campaign | Ex-John Lewis boss Andy Street defends £1m mayor campaign |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Conservative candidate to become West Midlands metro mayor has defended spending up to £1m on campaigning. | The Conservative candidate to become West Midlands metro mayor has defended spending up to £1m on campaigning. |
| Andy Street said he "had not spent quite £1m" as reports suggested but accepted he had "spent a substantial amount more than my opponents". | Andy Street said he "had not spent quite £1m" as reports suggested but accepted he had "spent a substantial amount more than my opponents". |
| The ex-John Lewis boss said the cost was "absolutely appropriate" as the 4 May election was "a new start in democracy" for the region. | The ex-John Lewis boss said the cost was "absolutely appropriate" as the 4 May election was "a new start in democracy" for the region. |
| Labour's candidate Sion Simon said the rules on spending should be tightened. | Labour's candidate Sion Simon said the rules on spending should be tightened. |
| The spending limit for the final weeks of campaigning are set at about £130,000, but there is no limit before then. | The spending limit for the final weeks of campaigning are set at about £130,000, but there is no limit before then. |
| Mr Street said: "Everyone has the same rules to work within, we were able to raise that money." | Mr Street said: "Everyone has the same rules to work within, we were able to raise that money." |
| Questioned on his being called the "Donald Trump of British politics", Mr Street said: "Everyone loves that line. | Questioned on his being called the "Donald Trump of British politics", Mr Street said: "Everyone loves that line. |
| "There's one similarity of course; a business background.. but there the similarity ends in terms of our beliefs." | "There's one similarity of course; a business background.. but there the similarity ends in terms of our beliefs." |
| Mr Simon told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "You can't blame Andy for sticking to the rules but it does beg the question whether the rules are right. | |
| "No rules at all, a complete free for all, until six weeks before polling day - I don't think that's the right way to go about this." | "No rules at all, a complete free for all, until six weeks before polling day - I don't think that's the right way to go about this." |
| He said in general elections, the regulated period begins much earlier. | |
| The two candidates are among six people bidding to become the West Midlands's first metro mayor on Thursday. | The two candidates are among six people bidding to become the West Midlands's first metro mayor on Thursday. |
| The mayor will have powers over economic development, education and skills, housing and transport | The mayor will have powers over economic development, education and skills, housing and transport |
| James Burn will represent the Green Party; Peter Durnell the UK Independence Party; Beverley Anne Nielsen is the Liberal Democrats candidate and Graham John Stevenson is the Communist candidate. | James Burn will represent the Green Party; Peter Durnell the UK Independence Party; Beverley Anne Nielsen is the Liberal Democrats candidate and Graham John Stevenson is the Communist candidate. |