an example of which we reported recently - teesvalleymonitor.com/funds-for-teesside-airport-fly-under-the-radar. Could some other Reform-led councils benefit from his expertise in avoiding proper accountability?

And the increased oversight put in place by the Government last year, when the Tees Valley Combined Authority was served with a best Value Notice, appears to have had little success in curtailing the mayor’s idiosyncratic use of public money to fund his favoured projects ...

That may provide him with appeal that Tory MPs lack.
It appears that the mayor being embroiled in scandal is no disincentive in Reform World. Perhaps this is because some degree of scandal attaches to all councils now under Reform control.

Farage himself has denied ‘reaching out’ to Houchen.

There remains the matter of Farage’s 7 May deadline for defections and whether this would apply to the Tees Valley mayor, given that, unlike Tory parliamentarians, he is not currently in opposition but has a power base ...

“There’s a big opportunity for the Tories to regain some trust by just focusing on the economy.”
3. The mayor believes that the Conservatives and Reform will eventually come together.

Oddly, while the FT has been informed that Farage and a Reform staff member met with Houchen in mid-December ...

1. “I’ve always been a Conservative. Loyalty is important to me,” says the mayor.
2. The mayor believes it comes down to a matter of economic competence. In this Reform just doesn’t stack up, he believes. Adding ...

in an attempt to persuade him to ditch the Conservative Party and join Reform.

The first approach was made in December, with a second last week. The mayor has so far rejected his advances. Why? ...

It gets worse. Government-appointed Best Value Notice panel announced in a TVCA Cabinet meeting in December that it is considering winding up its operation. So who is left to oversee the work of Corney and Musgrave? Houchen?

Thanks, Ray. It's always a thrill when we get some response on Bluesky