https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyde0gw4q7o

Hartlepool push for franchising. 
Houchen says no, because "Franchising buses would mean years of costly bureaucracy, handing hundreds of millions to companies like Arriva and Stagecoach , and a significant tax increase on local people - something I've promised never to do,"

I hope someone highlighted the hypocrisy in the BIB.
How much are SNE getting off him at the moment? 
I've lost track.