Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has labelled the Government’s levelling-up agenda a ‘total scam’, after a new report laid bare the scale of regional inequality.
In Bloomberg’s 2023 Levelling Up Scorecard, it was highlighted that since 2019 – when the Tories promised to ‘level-up’ neglected regions across the UK – inequalities have widened and key prosperity indicators have fallen.
Across Denton and Reddish, it was revealed that local people have seen their salaries, access to affordable housing, life expectancy and broadband coverage all fall or remain the same since 2019. The report also shows that overall Government spending has declined in the local area.
Earlier this month, Gwynne slammed the Government after Tameside Council’s levelling up bid to transform Denton Town Centre was rejected. Rishi Sunak’s own constituency was awarded funding, leading to accusations of favouritism being levelled at the Prime Minister.
Commenting, Andrew Gwynne said:
“These findings reinforce what we’ve long suspected, that Tory levelling up is a total scam.
“The Government explicitly promised that they would level up swathes of neglected regions across the UK, but instead they’ve actively made things worse – it’s shameful.
“The Conservatives have been in power for 13 years, and we’ve nothing to show for it except lower salaries, worse living standards and skyrocketing bills.
“We need a General Election, and a Labour Government that works in the interests of local people”.
Click here to read the full Bloomberg report.
