Tories Win Tees Valley Mayor Race In Relief For Rishi Sunak

Conservative Ben Houchen has won re-election to a third term as mayor of Tees Valley, a result that will come as a huge relief for Rishi Sunak.

Holding the mayoralty in the north of England was seen as one of the key tests for the prime minister at the local elections in England.

If Houchen had lost, it would have increased the panic among Tory MPs about a looming general election defeat and further destabilised Sunak’s position in No.10.

Houchen won with 53.6% of the vote -...