Claims county will lose millions under new funding system
Lanarkshire has been“shortchanged”by millions of pounds through a new funding initiative, according to a local MSP.
The Westminster Government unveiled the Shared Prosperity fund, which they say will replace funding streams previously given through the European Union.
However, critics claim the programme, which will see £2.6 billion spent across the UK between now and 2025, will leave Scotland more than £150 million down in the first year alone on what it would have received had the UK not left the European Union.
It has been established to replace funds, such as the European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund.
Scotland will receive £32m this year – £151m less than the expected £183m from EU structural funding. For South Lanarkshire,
that is an estimated loss of nearly £8.9m, while for North Lanarkshire the figure is just over £9.4m.
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey insists the region is being let down and said:“The people of Cambuslang and Rutherglen did not vote for Brexit, yet are paying a very high price for the Tories’ reckless obsession to leave the EU.
“EU funding has supported
infrastructure projects and community initiatives since the 1970s, with Scotland receiving more than £6bn.
“This includes, but is not limited to, funding for language training in local schools and towards the construction of the new Smart Bridge at Shawfield.
“Whether it’s from the damaging impact to local businesses from not being in the EU’s single market, denying people the opportunity to live, study and work freely in Europe, or failing to properly match EU investment, the Tories are continually short-changing South Lanarkshire.”
However Graham Simpson, Tory list MSP for Central Scotland, claimed the funding would provide a welcome boost across the region.
He said:“While the SNP have taken power away from local authorities during their 14 years in office, the UK Government is empowering communities by investing directly in innovative projects.
“Groups and residents in Lanarkshire are already feeling the benefits of this and the UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund, which awarded more than £3m to organisations in the region.”