Forum Topic

Tory Party leadership election hits a new low

It's not often that people like Rishi Sunak speak openly about what they're really about, but this statement, in which Sunak boasts to party members about changing the resource allocation formula so it takes money that was "shoved into deprived urban areas" by the Labour Party and reallocates it to areas like Tunbridge Wells so they "are getting the funding they deserve."https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1555475661917421568The funding they deserve? Tunbridge Wells continues to rank as the least deprived local authority in Kent (https://www.kent.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/7953/Indices-of-Deprivation-headline-findings.pdf), and Kent hardly scores much on deprivation. And this is levelling up?

Richard Carter ● 1277d4 Comments

Urban cities are not the only deprived areas.The question is was he referring to genuine deprived non-urban areas or hinting as favoring well off Conservative areas?Of course there are plenty of deprived non-urban areas that have Conservative councils and Labour voting councils tend to be cities.This is why the funding must be transparent and based on need not party favoritism.Given his other speeches I wouldn't give him the benefit of the doubt.I think he has damaged the cause of non-urban deprived areas sadly - I hope I'm wrong!

Ed Robinson ● 1277d

One of the few times you can trust something a Tory says!

Matt Palmer ● 1277d

That won't look good when it's used at the next general election to expose the lies about "levelling up" but will it help to enhance his standing compared to Ms Truss with Conservative party members? After all, I doubt many "Red Wall" voters are party members but many in places like Tunbridge Wells probably are. (An occasion when those in Tunbridge Wells weren't disgusted?)

Michael Ixer ● 1277d

Disgraceful.

Philippa Bond ● 1277d