Ben Houchen has urged council leaders to durn down a proposal to give the role of Tees Valley Mayor a pay rise - saying he will 'not accept it'.

The Independent Remuneration Panel has proposed that the mayoral salary should be increased after the election in May 2024.

Mr Houchen doesn't believe that this should happen and says he would turn it down if it was offered.

He has previously accepted pay rises recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel, but said he still had 'one of the lowest among metro mayors'.

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In an announcement Mr Houchen said: "It has been proposed by the Independent Remuneration Panel that the Mayoral salary should increase after the next election in May

"Let me be clear, I DON'T want this pay rise, I will NOT accept it, and I am calling on all 5 local council leaders to vote against it. No ifs. No buts.

"I'm not allowed to vote on the panel's recommendations and it would be wrong of me to do so. It is right that as mayor I should NOT decide my own salary, but it is my view that such a pay rise would be wrong and inappropriate.

"Creating good quality local jobs and driving Teesside forward is what gets me out of bed on a morning - not money, and I think that should be the same for anyone wanting this job.

"The local authority leaders must vote this down and no more time should be spent discussing such things. Instead, I want to concentrate on doing my job, which is to deliver more jobs and better wages for local people across Teesside, Darlington, and Hartlepool."

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Mr Houchen previously saw his salary rise from £37,293 to £65,000 in 2021.

The decision rests in the hands of the local authority leaders in Middlesbrough, Redcar&Cleveland, Darlington, Stockton and Hartlepool.

All of the council leaders have been approached for comment.