British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has unveiled a “transformational fund” of around 2.1 billion GBP for 100 projects, which he says are towards the Conservative Party government’s agenda to “level up” all parts of the United Kingdom will help.
In what is being seen as an attempt to build some momentum for the Tories in time for the next general election in 2024, Prime Minister Sunak said the major government investment would benefit millions of people in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and spreading opportunity to historically neglected areas – with GBP 672 million to develop better transport links, GBP 821 million to kick-start community regeneration, and GBP 594 million to restore local heritage sites.
A total of 111 sectors have been funded by the UK government’s second “flagship Leveling Up Fund”, which aims to create new jobs and boost economic growth.
“Through more investment in local areas, we can grow the economy, create great jobs and spread opportunity everywhere,” Sunak said.
“This is why we are supporting more than 100 projects with new transformational funding to raise the level of local communities across the United Kingdom. By reaching more parts of the country than ever before, we are making a difference in people’s lives and places. will build a future of optimism and pride. They call home,” he said.
Projects supported by the British Indian leader include the Eden Project North visitor attraction in Morecambe, a new AI complex in Blackpool, a new rail link in Cornwall and a major regeneration scheme in Gateshead.
Rishi Sunak’s own constituency of Richmond in North Yorkshire will receive GBP 19 million to develop Catterick Garrison town centre, creating new routes for walking and cycling, a new town square and a new community facility that will provide new businesses and a community will host kitchen.
Downing Street said the funding would further Sunak’s “priority to grow the economy and provide the foundation to build a better future in communities across the UK”. It also confirmed that there would be another round of the Leveling Up Fund for regions to bid for more such funding.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said: “We are firing the starting gun on over a hundred transformational projects in every corner of the UK, which will regenerate communities that have historically been overlooked, but are bursting with potential “
“This new funding will create jobs, drive economic growth, and help restore local pride. We are delivering on people’s priorities, raising standards across the UK to ensure that where you live You can move ahead according to your talent.” will take you,” he said.
The cabinet minister also hit back at claims from the opposition Labor Party that London and the south-east of England were preferred over northern parts of the country as “simply untrue”.
“It is overwhelmingly the case that the North-West, North-East and East Midlands are the areas to benefit the most,” Gove claimed.
Leveling up was a phrase coined by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the 2019 general election campaign to symbolize a commitment to bridging the gap between richer and poorer parts of the UK by improving services such as education, broadband and transport.
With the Tories trailing Labor in opinion polls amid rising inflation and widespread public sector discontent, Mr Sunak is keen to revive the leveling agenda and make it his own in time when he is asked to lead the party into the next general election. are supposed to. ,
Opposition Labor’s shadow leveling secretary, Lisa Nandy, called the plan a “Hunger Games style competition” beset by delays and chaos.
The Indian-origin Labor MP said, “It is time to end Hunger Games-style competition, where communities are pitted against each other and Whitehall ministers pick winners and losers.”
