‘How much cash did you take from deprived parts of Medway to give to places like leafy Tunbridge Wells?’
Labour’s Vince Maple has today written to the new Prime Minister to demand answers, as a leaked video reveals Rishi Sunak boasting to Tory activists that he had taken funding from ‘urban deprived areas’ in order to give more cash to places like Tunbridge Wells. How much did he take? Why does he think Tunbridge Wells is more important? Will he return the money? And will he apologise?
In the letter Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of the Medway Labour and Co-operative Group writes:
“As you know, your Conservative party has crashed the British economy – and the whole country is set to pay the price for years to come. After twelve years of failure, Medway needs you to finally deliver for our area – but I’m afraid the signs aren’t good.
“When campaigning for the Conservative leadership you told Tory activists you had undone old funding formulas to take vital support from ‘deprived areas’ in order to give it to well off areas like Tunbridge Wells. I am writing to ask you to come clean with the people of Medway.
“Politics isn’t a game Rishi. When you tell Tory activists that you have short changed deprived communities in areas like ours so richer parts of the country can have more, you are hitting the people of Medway hard. That’s care for our older family members, support for our kids, our bins being collected and roads repaired. It might not mean anything to you, but these things matter to us.”
Responding to the comments, former Conservative party Chair, Jake Berry said:
“In public @RishiSunak claims he wants to level up the North, but here, he boasts about trying to funnel vital investment away from deprived areas? He says one thing and does another – from putting up taxes to trying to block funding for our armed forces and now levelling up…”
ENDS
Rishi Sunak told an audience of Conservative Party Members that he had diverted money from deprived urban areas to reroute to areas like affluent Tunbridge Wells.
https://twitter.com/PickardJE/status/1584901315536343043
The letter in full:
Dear Rishi Sunak,
Congratulations on becoming the third Prime Minister in a disastrous seven weeks for our country. As you know, your Conservative party has crashed the British economy – and the whole country is set to pay the price for years to come. After twelve years of failure, Medway needs you to finally deliver for our area – but I’m afraid the signs aren’t good.
When campaigning for the Conservative leadership you told Tory activists you had undone old funding formulas to take vital support from ‘deprived areas’ in order to give it to well off areas like Tunbridge Wells. I am writing to ask you to come clean with the people of Medway:
- How much support have you taken from deprived communities in Medway?
- Why do you think areas like Tunbridge Wells are more deserving than Medway?
- Will you now return that money – so we can begin to repair some of the services and support obliterated by your disastrous record of low growth and cuts?
- Will you apologise to the people of Medway?
Politics isn’t a game Rishi. When you tell Tory activists that you have short changed deprived communities in areas like ours so richer parts of the country can have more, you are hitting the people of Medway hard. That’s care for our older family members, support for our kids, our bins being collected and roads repaired. It might not mean anything to you, but these things matter to us.
I look forward to your answers – and your apology.
Yours
Cllr Vince Maple