UKC

Pathetic response from the Chancellor to an FT reporter asking why 40 out of 45 towns receiving £1bn through new town deals happen to have Conservative MPs-

https://twitter.com/PickardJE/status/1367165382314835974

It's worth noting that the "transparently published" formula could not be provided by the Treasury when it was requested.

https://twitter.com/estwebber/status/1367377422350503936?s=20

Rishi has certainly taken his lead from the PM, say something untrue, get it circulating in the media and everyone believes it. The news that it's a false statement doesn't ever seem to break through!

Is it a false statement? No one can see it so ticks one definition of transparent.

There’s a surprise! 

You get what you vote for?

Trouble is, the rest of us get it - or, in the case of NHS staff, don't get it - as well.

Serious question; having googled the black market price of nuclear weapons how far is that pot of cash going to go? I mean I am not sure there is enough there to sort Swindon never mind the rest of them.

Some more detail about the lack of detail:

https://fullfact.org/economy/levelling-up-fund-index/

If you think that was pathetic you should listen to what that pathetic tw*t Rees-Mog had to say about it yesterday. That contemptible little weasel seems to think he is impressive with his snivelling school-boy jibes and that we might mistake this as masterful political rhetoric.

You can see him smugly rehearsing his sneers in the mirror but while he reminds himself of some sort of Machiavellian masterclass he just reminds me of the sort of people that delight in pulling the wings off flys.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56281774

is quite interesting - halfway down what Peter Barnes has to say about the proportion of Brexit voting locations rewarded ...

We really do seem to have a government that is serving less than half of the population generally, (without even getting into the self-service aspects of the current Tory govt)

Divide and Conquer as they say.  Phase 1 divide the population, Phase 2 Divide The United Kingdom, Phase 3 Divide Great Britain.  Then RULE ENGLAND

Its really annoying we have a Brexit Tory MP in a red wall town and we are not getting any of this money..........

And your point is?

Annoyance that we have not get any money......so much for pork barrel politics..... best get rid of the MP who clearly is not doing their job.

I'm sure "Richmondshire" is in need of levelling up compared with the rest of the N of England ..

or should that be Rishimondshire?

(sorry-forgot link)

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/why-rishi-sunaks-district-of-...

I think that's still available as an after-school club at his old prep school, Westminster Under School as it likes to style itself. Other popular activities include Pranking Nanny and Fun with Sesquipedalianism.

I guess Richmond has gone down hill after loosing the tourist dollar to Barnard Castle since the later entered the limelight.  I heard all the opticians had to close too.  Should’ve gone to Barnard Castle - who can compete with advertising like that?

what's more they didn't even see it coming, unlike certain individuals with excellent eye sight

Although they could always go back and edit their blog and pretend they saw it coming.  Better remind them about the waybackmachine however...

Mr Rees-Mogg replied: "The reason we need this fund is because of the failings of socialism, socialist councils, socialist MPs, letting down their constituents, and this Government is putting things right, it is levelling up.

All the socialists fault ----- Richmond that well know left wing enclave. Last none Conservative or Unionist MP was ---Sir Francis Dyke Acland - Liberal MP in 1906

Never had a Labour MP  and really a Labour Council memberber. Usually about 50% independent - most of who are usually  ex Tory 

My mother was classed as left wing for being a member of the Liberal party....

I’m too scareD to look that up!

I see. Where’s that then? - it would be interesting to see why your town isn’t one of the chosen. In the absence of any transparency regarding the selection criteria it’s hard to work out anyway though. 

Why should any of this be surprising. All about managing the vote and keeping Tory diehards sweet. What absolutely dreadful times we live in...and the government's popularity showing a +13 point lead over the rest. We're being taken to the cleaners by a contemptible shower of sh*ts, twerps and no-marks.

Edit for typo

Where are the Lee-Enfields?

In your opinion. Tory lead over Labour up and up, budget highest public approval rating since this was item was polled. One good thing is Starmer has an approval lead over Johnson, but many on here would love to return to the Corbyn catastrophe and negate that possible gain.

Small arms will be of little use on that lot

Probably echoed by a few others, at a pinch...

I feel in a very exclusive club, Labour MP and awarded a Towns Fund grant. Minor involvement in writing the bid as well, properly shitty process.

More on this:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/04/tories-accused-of-levellin...
 

Well, yeah, but you can prove anything with facts, can't you?... 

That’s good to hear there was a bid process. Can you comment on the criteria. 

Be a cabinet member's seat, a red wall seat that needs rewarding for voting Tory or an ultra close marginal

Although NickB's profile locationwould suggest safe labour seat. I still find it hard to believe that it was a particularly objective process given the inclusion of towns such as Richmond

The Town’s Fund geographical area is set by Government, or at least DCLG. It was slightly odd. The bid process is basically putting forward a list of suggested projects that the fund will support. The vibe was very much that we had been chosen and would have to seriously f*ck it up to be unsuccessful. Unlike the Future High Street Fund, which seemed much more competitive.