Taxpayers set to shoulder £43billion worth of council debt under Labour's devolution plans

Taxpayers are set to bear the burden of £43billion worth of council debt under Labour's plans to create 'super-councils' via their local authority reform. Thurrock Council was left with more than £1billion worth of debt after investing in a solar farm tycoon who used taxpayer cash to buy luxury goods including a yacht and a private jet Ministers want to scrap hundreds of small local authorities as part of Angela Rayner 's 'devolution revolution' An example of such a case can be found in Essex with Thurrock Council, which was left with more than £1billion worth of debt after investing in a solar farm tycoon who used taxpayer cash to buy luxury goods including a yacht and a private jet. Cash-strapped Thurrock Council in Essex borrowed £655million of public money to invest in Liam Kavanagh's solar farm business Thurrock hoped the huge investment in 53 solar farms would generate millions in extra income Ms Rayner's 'devolution revolution' will create more directly elected mayors, who will have the powers to impose a 'mayoral precept' on top of council tax for large parts of England. Unveiling the plans yesterday the Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner said England will go from one of the 'most centralised' nations to one where local leaders 'with skin in the game' have significant powers.