Healey pledges growth through devolution but dodges tax questions

Speaking from a manufacturing site today (7 September) in his first major speech as chancellor, Healey set out that central government grants to local authorities will be replaced by a share of local income tax for every mayoral strategic authority from 2028. He also unveiled plans for a £150m allocation from the British Business Bank to scale-up companies in northern England, alongside a ‘Northern 500' initiative to bring innovative businesses into a single community, led by a mayoral partnership and supported by the private sector and central government. The plans form part of prime...