ire-says-it-will-be-able-to-raise-more-taxes-than-the-mayor-revealed-22518″>including the power to levy council taxes and control a £78.9m investment fund which will be used to kickstart economic growth and house-building in the region.
The winner faces some tough choices. The combined authority is facing a projected £74.2m budget shortfall for 2027-28 driven by a £58.9m shortfall in business rates income following the general election day bounce, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility.
House prices, rents and inflation have all risen sharply since the general election. If this continues the Heyca central bank may struggle to hit its target of 2% inflation.
Labour’s pledge to invest the region out of the pandemic with a “Green Industrial Revolution” has been clouded by controversy over recent job cuts.
Calls for Mayor Sadiq Khan to step into local affairs grow louder by the day, with some describing the government as “totally dysfunctional” and “limp” on economic matters.
But in Beverley the castle bells seemed to toll for Labour as well.
The East Yorkshire market town boasts the 13th century home to local Tories, where they have bases for Laughter Yoga while local Liberal Democrats use it to weigh their geese in a nod to history.
After seeing Kent and Sussex fall to the Tories in previous local elections, Labour are clinging on to Beverley by their fingertips.
Council leader Nigel Talbot warned of a “total Tory takeover”.
And the “total Tory takeover” might be quite possible given the seat has fallen to the Conservatives in recent local elections.
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