‘Shameful’: Prime Minister’s constituency gets £19m ‘Levelling Up’ cash while Hull misses out
NO SUPPORT: Hull’s bid for £23.5m for a facelift of Hull City Hall was turned down. Picture by Neil Holmes Photography
By Simon Bristow
The leader of Hull City Council has described the latest round of “Levelling Up” funding as “shameful” after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s constituency was awarded £19m while Hull’s bid for a total of £53.5m was rejected.
The announcement of the latest round of funding has prompted complaints of bias towards Conservative areas, with many pointing towards the millions being poured into Sunak’s wealthy Richmond constituency as less affluent areas missed out.
The town of Catterick in the PM’s North Yorkshire seat is to get £19m from the £2.1bn package announced in the latest round. Hull’s two bids - £30m for a park and ride facility in Kingswood, and £23.5m for a facelift for Hull City Hall - were declined.
Councillor Mike Ross, Liberal Democrat leader of the city council, said: “It is shameful and disgraceful to see Hull yet again being left behind by the Government and see no levelling up funding granted. This Government is scandalous and not even trying to hide it anymore.
“While the Prime Minister sees funding for his own area, people in Hull have been let down today.”
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He added: “This sham will not stop us. Liberal Democrats have a vision for a fairer, greener and safer city, one that moves forward into the future.”
Sunak published a series of tweets on Levelling Up today, including one saying “Find your nearest Levelling Up project”. This included a link to a series of case studies on the Government website, published on January 17, which states: “Over £19 million to regenerate Hull city centre.”
This is a reference to the redevelopment of Whitefriargate and the new Albion Square development. But a city council source said it related to an announcement last year and Hull has already received this money.
It was the only case study listed for the whole of East Yorkshire.
Earlier today it was revealed more than 9,000 people in Hull had called a helpline over the cost of living crisis since it was set up in September.