Lingering anger over Boris Johnson and “Partygate”, as well as a failure to deliver promised “levelling up” were all cited as reasons not to vote Conservative by the woman who i spoke to at Darlington station. It’s not just local issues that could move the dial for Labour next week. “And that would absolutely stop, because it’s wrong, it’s public money being spent and the public have a right to know.” “It’s been very difficult for the public and for councils to scrutinise his decisions. “I suspect Ben is not interested in the other five leaders,” Cllr Harker said.

Houchen has failed to attend some meetings designed to scrutinise decisions about the airport, which is run through subsidiary companies – a structure that has led to complaints about a lack of transparency. Steve Harker, Labour group leader on Darlington Council, told i he intends to “change the dynamic” of the Combined Authority if his party is successful in the local elections, singling out the continued funding for Teesside Airport as an example of the need for change. Like Andy Burnham, Labour’s Greater Manchester Mayor, Houchen has been a power in his land.īut all that could change next week as Labour, which already leads one of the five councils – Stockton – could move into poll position in three more: Darlington, Middlesbrough, and Hartlepool – scene of the Tories’ famous 2021 by-election victory. So far, with four of the five councils either run by Conservatives, or independents who vote with them, that has not been a problem. Rishi Sunak with Darlington Council leader Jonathan Dulston (far left), Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen (far right) and Darlington MP Peter Gibson in Firth Moor during a visit to the town in March (Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA)Īs Mayor of Tees Valley Combined Authority, Houchen must work in collaboration with a cabinet made up of the five leaders of the local authorities, who can veto his decisions with a three-fifths majority.

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