I wasn’t expecting to post again for a while, but I’ve been slightly taken aback by the number of messages. Your support means a lot to me at a testing time.

In fact it seems many of you already have my next move planned out before I’ve even thought about it!

For those who have…

Absolutely gutted to be so near, yet so far.

It has been my honour to serve citizens in the WM for the last seven years, and I hope I have done it with dignity & integrity.

I am proud of what we have achieved together and I hope my successor can build upon it.

Thank you all.

And that's it - polling stations are now closed!

Thank you to everyone who came out and showed their support today - every vote really does matter & your support means the world to me ❤️

I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of the brilliant & dedicated activists who have braved the wind, rain and even hail to spread my ambitious plans to every corner of the WM these last few weeks 💚

It really means so much, thank you 👏🏻

Hundreds of doors knocked, thousands of leaflets delivered & thousands of steps walked so far 💪🏻

Today you can back my fully-funded, ambitious plan that will deliver for the West Midlands at no extra cost to you 🫵🏻

Thank you for all your support so far 🤝🏻

Being Mayor is an executive role, almost like being Chief Executive for the West Midlands. And YOU get to decide who does that job.

You have a choice of demonstrable leadership ability & consistent financial competence, or untried leadership & unfunded financial commitments.

One of my first acts as Mayor was to create the Homelessness Taskforce ✅

A nice symmetry with the last day of this term where we’ve got the Renters Reform Bill amended 👏🏻

The WM’s efforts have ensured society’s most vulnerable can still access stepping stone accommodation 🤝🏻

This election couldn’t be closer, I need your support to continue to deliver my ambitious - and funded - plan 🗳️

✅ 425,000 NEW jobs & training opportunities

✅ TRIPLE the number of social homes being built to 1,700 a year

✅ Expand the Metro even further

And so much more 📈

🚨WE’RE ON THE SHORTLIST FOR THE INVICTUS GAMES🚨

Absolutely thrilled to say we’re in the final two to host such a fantastic celebration of the armed forces & sport 👏🏻

Working with Rt Hon Johnny Mercer we’ll put on the best one yet - at NO EXTRA COST to council taxpayers 💪🏻

A seismic day today that will shape the future of the West Midlands…

I am of course referring to the Villa’s first European semi-final in 40 years 😉

It has been a fantastic season, underlined by the fact they’re the ONLY British side left in Europe 🏆

Best of luck tonight 🤞🏻

Today you get to decide which individual leads the WM as its Mayor 🫵🏻

It has been the honour of a lifetime serving as your Mayor, and I believe we’ve achieved so much together 👏🏻

But there’s still more to do, & I need your support to deliver my ambitious, fully-funded plans 🗳️

We’ve achieved a lot together👇🏻

The best ever Commonwealth Games, 235,000 jobs and training opportunities created, leading the U.K. on housebuilding, & much, much more 📈

But there’s still more to do. So on Thursday place your trust in proven delivery & financial competence 🗳️

I won’t stop fighting for the 21 innocent victims who lost their lives in the Birmingham Pub Bombings - and the families who live with the grief everyday.

Families and loved ones deserve a public inquiry, & I’m pushing incredibly hard to make it happen.

birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football…

Great to see Belgrave Village underway - a 438 home brownfield site 🏡

We also celebrated the impending redevelopment of Wolverhampton’s Canalside - where Wavensmere’s the developer 👏

We’re pleased to back this landmark regeneration scheme as agreed at our Investment Board 🤝

From residents to first-time visitors, no one wants to see litter & graffiti blighting communities 👎🏻

That’s why I’m pledging to launch a FIRST IMPRESSIONS FUND, helping fund local community groups to clean up & improve their areas 🧼

We all want to take pride in our home ❤️

Did you know that we’ve got the cash and plans in place for two BIG bus changes❓

🌖 Return of night buses

✈️ Extended Airport services

It’s all part of a £16.6MILLION investment, which will also fund increased frequency for key bus routes & more transport safety officers 🚌

As Mayor I’ve delivered sound financial management, balanced budgets & no mayoral tax. Next term will be the same ✅

My ambitious plan for the next 4 years won’t cost you an extra penny 🤝🏻

You can vote to stick with this approach, or risk paying £1,900 in a new Mayoral tax 🗳️

It has been the honour of my life to represent & lead the region I call home ❤️

We’ve achieved a lot together, but there’s still more to do 💪🏻

From celebs to businesses, media personalties to community leaders, it’s great to have so much support for my financially-sound plans👇🏻