Row Erupts As Ministers Refuse To Give Metro Mayors Tax Rebates In Devolution Drive

Tory mayor Ben Houchen said: “Doesn’t sound much like devolution to me?”

Political Correspondent

Andy Burnham’s new plan to offer metro mayors a greater proportion of income tax to spend on their local communities has already hit a stumbling block.

In his push for devolution, the prime minister promised that “more of the taxes raised in a community will stay in that community” in plans to be outlined in his autumn Budget.

Conservative mayor of Tees Valley, Lord Houchen, then suggested giving that extra cash back to taxpayers.

But first secretary of state Louise Haigh slapped down the proposal this morning, telling Times Radio: ”Mayors have the ability to spend the money almost as they want now, especially in advanced mayoral authorities like Tees Valley.

“To my knowledge, Ben hasn’t developed a rebate scheme and it’s not in their gift to set income tax or business rates.

“So we would anticipate that the money would be invested into public services and into growth schemes that benefit the community as a........

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