Burnham Pushes Mayors' Tax-Retention Plan From 2027 as Critics Warn of a 2-Tier England
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 31
Burnham Pushes Mayors' Tax-Retention Plan From 2027 as Critics Warn of a 2-Tier England
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 31
Summary
April 2027 is the planned start for English strategic-authority mayors to retain some business rates, with a share of income tax due from April 2028 under Burnham's devolution overhaul.
Burnham says the reform will let metro mayors invest locally in public services without changing income-tax rates, calling it the biggest shift of power from Whitehall and promising more detail in the 28 October Budget.
Ben Houchen backed fiscal devolution but said mayors should also be able to give taxpayers rebates; Burnham rejected turning local leaders into "mini-chancellors" who rewrite tax policy.
Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat critics warned poorer or rural areas could lose out, saying the plan lacks redistribution and risks a postcode lottery or a two-tier system for places without mayors.