Tory warning over Theresa May’s ‘patronising’ £1.6bn Brexit bribe to MPs in struggling towns

Theresa May’s £1.6 billion fund for struggling towns has been criticised by Tory MPs
House of Commons/PA
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Tory MPs today joined a growing wave of criticism of Theresa May’s £1.6 billion fund for struggling towns after it emerged the money was for a six-year period.

The package was branded a “pittance, corrupt, patronising and pathetic” by Labour MPs who see it as an attempt to “bribe” backbenchers from their party in Northern and Midlands Leave constituencies to support the Prime Minister’s Brexit plans.

However Tory MPs in southern England also criticised the allocation of the funding as their areas are set to get just a small fraction of the cash, and they warned against the money being a “sticking plaster” or attempted “quick fix” to deeply-entrenched problems.

Initial reports suggested the funding was for four years not the six - and so in fact it works out at only £266 million a year.

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire defended the programme, stressing it would be “transformative” and was not conditional on support for the Prime Minister’s Withdrawal Agreement.

“This is new money for the period from 2020 to 2026,” he said.

“This funding is there to see that towns grow and...seeing those areas really prospering.”

The North West is set to get £281 million, West Midlands £212 million, Yorkshire and The Humber £197 million, East Midlands £110 million, North East £105 million, South East £37 million, South West £33 million and East of England £25 million.

Communities from across the country will also be able to bid for funding for projects from a £600 million pot.

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire defended the programme
REUTERS

Harlow Conservative MP Robert Halfon welcomed the funding but tweeted: “Disappointed that East of England gets just £25 million.”

North West Cambridgeshire Tory MP Shailesh Vara added: “It is always good news when the Government is able to provide more funding for the regions but I’m personally disappointed that my own region is to receive such a small sum.”

Stafford Conservative MP Jeremy Lefroy warned: “It must not be just a quick fix that is a one-off thing over six years.”

He welcomed if the Government was genuinely committing to a long-term plan to address problems faced by many smaller cities and town but stressed that experience has been that these efforts tend to put a “sticking plaster” over issues rather than deal with them properly.

Labour MPs reacted far more vociferously.

Rhondda MP Chris Bryant attacked the fund, tweeting: “They want us to feel grateful for the pittance they intend to dole out over six years.

“It’s corrupt, patronising, pathetic. All to appease the Brexit monster.”

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw insisted Labour MPs would not be so “naive” as to be swayed by the money to vote for Mrs May’s flawed Brexit deal.

Ashfield MP Gloria De Piero branded the funds “peanuts”, while Stoke-on-Trent North MP Ruth Smeeth told the BBC’s WestminsterHour that it was “pathetic”.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell dismissed the fund as a “desperate bribe”, however some Labour MPs were more supportive of the Government’s move.

Don Valley MP Caroline Flint believes around 30 backbenchers could support Mrs May’s plans if they are sufficiently amended.

The Prime Minister is expected to need the support of some Labour MPs, possibly 20 or 30, to get her Brexit plans through the Commons if hardline members of the Tory European Research Group refuse to back it.

If her Democratic Unionist Party allies are supportive, many Eurosceptic Tory MPs are expected to also fall in behind the Prime Minister, but a hardcore are set to be far more difficult to persuade to back her.

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