Towns fund boosts Tory-held marginals over poorest areas

[Denzil_DC]

The Conservatives have been accused of short-changing the poorest communities in favour of comparatively affluent towns to boost their election prospects.

The government promised that the multibillion-pound towns fund would “unleash the full economic potential of more than 100 places and level up communities throughout the country”.

However, 32 towns on the list fall outside the 300 worst-off in England according to rankings from the Office for National Statistics.

Analysis by The Times reveals the extent to which money has been directed towards wealthier areas that are marginal Conservative-held or target seats.
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https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/towns-fund-boosts-tory-held-marginals-p8xqlkd7f

Just another example of how the long run-in to the election since Johnson became prime minister has allowed the Tories to use the levers of state for what they hope will be their own electoral benefit.

[Denzil_DC]

1. More on this.

Even for the towns that may eventually benefit from the fund, there are catches and conditions.

Link to tweet

Jennifer Williams ✔
@JenWilliamsMEN

Latest update from govt on the towns fund is...interesting. They are not, as yet, being given £25m - more like £400k. Plus they'll only get more cash if they do what the government wants. #devolution #LevelUp

The initial funding is to develop detailed town development plans the government may or may not approve, within what is most likely an unrealistically short deadline of the end of summer 2020.