Theresa May is being accused of bribing MPs in a desperate measure to buy votes as she launches a £1.6bn fund for pro-Brexit towns.
The new Stronger Towns Fund, with cash handouts for constituencies that voted Leave, is being unveiled just days before MPs are due to vote again on the prime minister’s deal.
The government claims it will boost growth and give communities a greater say in their future after Brexit and will be targeted at less prosperous parts of the country.
But opponents claim the handouts are aimed at persuading Labour MPs representing constituencies that voted Leave in the EU referendum to vote for the PM’s deal next week.
According to ministers, the fund will be used to create new jobs, help train local people and boost economic activity – with communities having a say on how the money is spent.
The government claims it will boost growth and give communities a greater say in their future after Brexit and will be targeted at less prosperous parts of the country.
But opponents claim the handouts are aimed at persuading Labour MPs representing constituencies that voted Leave in the EU referendum to vote for the PM’s deal next week.
According to ministers, the fund will be used to create new jobs, help train local people and boost economic activity with communities having a say on how the money is spent.
But the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, said: This towns fund smacks of desperation from a government reduced to bribing MPs to vote for their damaging flagship Brexit legislation.
The reason our towns are struggling is because of a decade of cuts, including to council funding and a failure to invest in businesses and our communities.
Labour pledged in 2017 that we will establish a network of regional development banks that will be dedicated to delivering the finance that our small businesses co-operatives and innovative projects need across the whole country.
No Brexit bribery. Stable investment where it’s most needed.
The better way is to recognise the best deal is the one we have with the European Union and let the people have their final say on Brexit.
Under the new scheme, the North West will get £281m, the West Midlands £212m, Yorkshire and the Humber £197m, the East Midlands £110m, the North East £105m, the South East £37m, the South West £35m, and the East of England £25m.
Another £600m will be available through a bidding process to communities in any part of the country.
The government says it will also seek to ensure towns across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will benefit from the new funding.