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Ex-John Lewis boss Andy Street defends £1m mayor campaign Ex-John Lewis boss Andy Street defends £1m mayor campaign
(about 1 hour later)
The Conservative candidate to become West Midlands metro mayor has defended spending up to £1m on campaigning. The Conservative candidate in the West Midlands metro mayor race 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" and 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. Other candidates said it was unfair and called for the rules to be tightened.
The spending limit for the final weeks of campaigning is set at about £130,000, but there is no limit before then. Spending in the final weeks of campaigning is capped at £130,000, but there is no limit before then.
On Thursday, six people will bid to become the region's first metro mayor, taking on powers over economic development, education and skills, housing and transport.
All six raised £5,000 to be included in a West Midlands Combined Authority booklet.
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. The candidate was asked by BBC Radio 4's Today programme about being referred to as the "Donald Trump of British politics".
"There's one similarity of course; a business background.. but there the similarity ends in terms of our beliefs." He replied: "Everyone loves that line. 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. Labour's candidate Sion Simon told the Today programme the regulated period begins much earlier for general elections.
"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 added: "You can't blame Andy for sticking to the rules but it does beg the question whether the rules are right.
He said in general elections the regulated period begins much earlier. "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.
Beverley Nielsen, the Liberal Democrats candidate, said she had raised about £50,000 for campaigning and could not afford to leaflet every house. The BBC has asked Mr Simon about the cost of his campaign but he has not commented.
She would also like to see mayoral elections have the same funding regulations as other elections, adding: "The public should hear the voice of all parties." Beverley Nielsen, the Liberal Democrat candidate, said she had raised about £50,000 for campaigning and could not afford to leaflet every house.
On Thursday, six people will bid to become the West Midlands' first metro mayor, taking on powers over economic development, education and skills, housing and transport. She said mayoral elections should have the same funding regulations as other elections, adding: "The public should hear the voice of all parties."
James Burn will represent the Green Party; Peter Durnell the UK Independence Party and Graham John Stevenson is the Communist candidate. UKIP's Pete Durnell said a spending cap was needed to give "small parties a chance".
"Aside from the booklet, my campaign would have cost £3,000. It is not a level playing field - we are not even on the same field."
James Burn is representing the Green Party and Graham John Stevenson is the Communist candidate.