Irony of Brexit

Future funding of deprived areas

IT WAS slightly ironic that areas like South Yorkshire voted in favour of Brexit on June 23 when Sheffield, and the surrounding area, had been one of the primary beneficiaries of European Union regeneration budgets.

Voters clearly believed the EU, and partner agencies, were only allocating money to specific schemes with hard-earned money that taxpayers had previously paid to the UK government – and that they want Ministers in this country to determine priorities.

These are not small sums. The Local Government Association estimates that up to £5.3bn is waiting to be allocated to the most deprived parts of the country and it wants assurances that this process will not become bogged down by political machinations in London and Brussels.

It is right to issue this warning. Existing commitments must be honoured in full – Britain will still be a member of the European Union for the foreseeable future and Theresa May has still to invoke Article 50, the twoyear process which will pave the way for this country’s exit from the EU.

However, when these deliberations begin, it will be incumbent upon the Government to provide clarity on how it intends to reallocate money previously given to the EU. There will be many competing demands, not least the NHS and farm subsidies, but economic regeneration will be pivotal if economically disadvantaged areas are to prosper in Brexit Britain.