𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Seven mayors will receive £13billion to invest in their local areas, Rachel Reeves has announced in her Autumn Budget.

These will be the Greater Manchester’s Andy Burnham, West Midlands’ Richard Parker, Liverpool City Region’ Steve Rotheram, West Yorkshire’s Tracy Brabin, North East Kim McGuinness, South Yorkshire’ Oliver Coppard and the Greater London Authority’s Sir Sadiq Khan.

The Chancellor told how the funding will focus on skills, business support and infrastructure as part of plans to ensure growth is “in every part” of the UK.

She said: “Today we are devolving £13billion of flexible funding for seven Mayors to invest in skills, business support and infrastructure.

“I am extending the business rates retention pilots in the West of England, Liverpool City Region and Cornwall until 2029 and providing £30m for the Kernow Industrial Growth Fund for sectors like critical minerals and marine innovation.

“I am establishing the Leeds City Fund: A long-term agreement to retain business rates to fund local regeneration projects like the development of Leeds South Bank and I am allocating £20million for the new Peterborough sports quarter and £16m for a science centre in Darlington from the Growth Mission Fund.”

It comes as visitors to English cities and regions could face paying a new tourist tax to fund local projects as the Government has announced mayors will be given the power to impose a “modest” charge on visitors staying in hotels, bed and breakfasts, guest houses and holiday lets.

While the measure has been called for by regional leaders, including London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and Greater Manchester’s Andy Burnham, the move has been condemned as “damaging” by the hospitality industry body UKHospitality.