Ben Houchen has gained a 3rd time period as Conservative mayor of Tees Valley in spite of popular Tory losses in different places in England at the day before today’s native elections.
Houchen was once victorious in all 5 council spaces albeit with a discounted majority of 53,6%, in comparison to 73% on the remaining election in 2021.
He mentioned it was once the “largest honour any person may give me” to be re-elected as mayor within the “position the place I’m going to be for the remainder of my lifestyles”.
However Labour mentioned the swing in opposition to the birthday party, which gained 41.3% of votes, up from 27.2% in 2021, put it on target to win each and every parliamentary seat within the space in a normal election.
Houchen is understood for the wide variety of regeneration and infrastructure initiatives he has championed in Tees Valley all through his time as mayor, together with Dogger Financial institution, the sector’s largest offshore wind farm.
>> See additionally: Meet Ben Houchen: the person placing the ability again into Teesside
In January he introduced a £1bn infrastructure bundle for the area which incorporates new delivery connections, railway station enhancements and a highway improve between Hartlepool and Stockton.
Previous that month he additionally introduced a viability learn about into a brand new crossing over the river Tees funded through cash left over from cancelled portions of HS2.
