The Conservatives have today (Saturday 1st June) announced 30 more towns will each benefit from £20 million as part of their Long-Term Plan for Towns, taking the total number of towns in the programme to over 100. Local people in each town will decide how the money will be used for long-term regeneration of their area.
Talent is spread evenly across the UK, but opportunity is not. The Conservatives’ levelling up plans have begun to address this, with £15 billion of government funding and billions more in private investment creating real improvements already. But we will go further.
Labour has offered no plan for how to improve these towns. Instead, they have criticised the Conservatives for directing this funding to the places that need it most.
Through freeports and investment zones, the Conservatives have turbocharged private investment in places that have been overlooked. Already, these zones have attracted new businesses, generated billions in private investment and created thousands of jobs where they are most needed.
Local people, not those in Westminster, will decide how the money will be spent. New Town Boards will be set up to bring together community leaders, businesspeople, local government, and the local MP, to develop and deliver the plan for their town. Bringing decision makers closer to the people and businesses this transformational funding will affect is an important element of this plan.
Amanda Milling, Conservative candidate for Cannock Chase, said:
"I am thrilled that Cannock will benefit from a further £20 million to transform the town as part of the Conservatives’ Long Term Plan for Towns. This builds on the £20 million of Levelling Up funding to regenerate the town centre.
"I have been working hard to ensure Cannock Chase attracts investment, so this new funding is excellent news. If re-elected I will continue to champion Cannock Chase to attract even more investment into all of our towns to make our area an even better place to live and work."
Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister said:
“We the Conservatives have a plan for towns because we know they are the beating heart of our country. This bold action will transform 30 more towns – reviving their high streets, growing their local economies and making people feel proud of the place they call home. Labour’s record in government shows they don’t care about towns – neglecting their needs, allowing them to decline and focusing instead on cities. Sir Keir Starmer has no plan to unlock opportunities in towns and would take us back to square one. Building on our strong track record of levelling up in Teesside and the Midlands, we will go further across the country to build a secure future for our children and grandchildren.”
Michael Gove, Levelling Up Secretary, said:
“This bold action will be transformational for towns around the country. It will allow local people to take back control - creating better jobs, improving transport and generating more investment. The Conservatives have a clear plan to spread opportunity so that talent and hard work, not geography, determine people’s life chances. Sir Keir Starmer has no plan and no idea how to help people help themselves, just patronising platitudes that would take us back to square one."
