Abigail Jaiyeola

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that England's regional mayors will gain new powers over public transport, housing and youth employment, along with the ability to retain a share of business-rate revenue from 2027 and income-tax revenue from 2028. Yorkshire mayors Oliver Coppard, Tracy Brabin and David Skaith welcomed the reforms as a way to secure long-term funding and improve transport, skills, employment and housing. Opposition parties criticized the lack of detail and new money, while the BBC's analysis noted that retaining 1–2% of income tax could provide Yorkshire with an estimated £200m–£300m annually but questioned whether this would be enough to narrow the substantial public-spending gap with London.