‘Levelling down’ claims as list of schemes revealed
THE full list of schemes receiving £46m funding from the UK government as part of its replacement for EU funding for poorer areas has been revealed.
The Welsh and UK Governments are caught in a war of words over the funding, which Wales says is a fraction of the £375m it would have received from the EU.
The UK’S Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove said that the projects would create new opportunities and help “level up” the United Kingdom.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove said: “We are determined to unite and level up our whole United Kingdom.
“The projects we are supporting, from Wrexham to Caerphilly, will help communities across Wales realise their full potential, create new opportunities for the future and help us achieve net zero carbon emissions.”
Councils were invited to bid for the funding from the Community Renewal Fund in May.
The UK Government says it will “help local areas prepare for the launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in 2022, the scheme that will see Uk-wide funding at least match EU money, reaching around £1.5 billion a year”.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Throughout the Brexit debate, the UK Government gave repeated assurances Wales would not lose ‘a single penny’ of EU funding should the UK exit the EU.
“The announcement by the UK Government shows they are shortchanging Wales by cutting the replacement funding we were promised. Instead of Wales receiving at least £375m annually in new money to invest from January this year, it confirms Wales will receive just £46m. This is not levelling up, it’s levelling down.
“The UK Government also promised devolved powers would be respected.
“The unconstitutional Internal Market Act undermines democratic devolution by stopping decisions about Wales being taken in Wales.
“It is yet another clear demonstration the people of Wales have been misled by the UK Government.”