A WORCESTERSHIRE MEP has spoken of his delight after being named Labour’s candidate for West Midlands Mayor in 2017.

Sion Simon has landed the position, saying if elected he will sort out the “Brexit chaos” and be a voice for the whole region.

The brand new role of West Midlands mayor will see an elected figurehead make key decisions over issues like transport links and education.

It does not include direct influence over Worcestershire, as the county council has decided against signing up to a new ‘super council’ style combined authority - although its membership areas which includes conurbations like Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Solihull and Sandwell say the door will never be shut entirely.

Mr Simon, who represents the whole West Midlands region including Worcestershire in the European Parliament, said: “I feel honoured and humbled by such an overwhelming mandate from Labour Party members to lead our regional party into the first Mayoral election in May.

“We need a West Midlands voice in the Brexit discussions - Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the City of London can’t be the only ‘special interests’ at the table.

“We need our case to be heard and our interests to be accounted for.”

Bosses at County Hall have twice insisted they have no plans to sign up to the new combined authority, an over-arching body which meets in Birmingham.

But Redditch Borough Council is part of a clutch of 'mon-constituent authorities' on the body, while councils in Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Shropshire are also involved - paying fees to be part of "key decisions" made around the huge negotiating table.