The only Conservative MP in Merseyside has defended a government policy that will see his own constituency get more funding than the other Labour areas in his region
£4.8 billion was set aside in Rishi Sunak’s budget for a “Levelling Up Fund,” focusing on northern constituencies in desperate need of investment and, truthfully, attention from government.
40 of the 45 beneficiaries of the fund’s first £1 billion just so happen to be within Conservative-held constituencies. For instance, Rishi Sunak’s own Richmond constituency includes the Richmond district, which falls entirely within the boundaries of the chancellor’s parliamentary seat.
However, Richmondshire is one of the least deprived areas in England. In fact, it sits at 251 out of 317 on the government’s own index of deprivation.
Merseyside throws the corruption into even sharper relief.
Only one district in the area will benefit from the fund.
And only one constituency in the area has a Tory MP.
Can you see where this is going?
merseyside election results in 2017 and 2019. guess the only area to get funding from the towns fund? pic.twitter.com/yfJRGVYkAV
— neal (@ne_al_) March 4, 2021
Damien Moore, Conservative MP for Southport, slammed the idea that his constituents are getting special treatment in Merseyside.
He says the fault lies not at the Conservative’s door, but Labour’s.
Speaking to JOE, Moore said: “It’s not my job to represent Merseyside.
“It’s my job to represent Southport.
“After years of neglect and abandonment by a Labour-run council who for too long have invested heavily in Labour-only constituencies, this funding is much needed.
“The suggestion or indeed the insinuation that my constituents are somehow underserving of receiving the investment announced yesterday is another reminder of how out of touch Labour are in many northern communities.”
Moore became the first Conservative MP for Southport since 1997 in 2017, holding onto to his seat again in the 2019 general election.
