Wolverhampton among areas to get nothing in round two of levelling up
There's been criticism of how the government funding has been allocated.
Whilst parts of the Black Country and Staffordshire received £60 million in levelling up funding, Wolverhampton did not receive a single penny.
The results of the government’s second round of the levelling up fund, which saw UK-wide bids made for a share of £2.1 billion, were announced yesterday (Thursday).
Wolverhampton had put in bids for £40m towards the Bilston Health and Regeneration Programme and the Springfield Innovation Hub, but was left disappointed.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the successful West Midlands bids would transform the area by creating jobs and spreading opportunity.
Following the news, MP Pat McFadden (Wolverhampton SE) said: “The refusal to back Bilston’s bid speaks volumes about the Conservative government’s attitude to our area. Bilston’s health and wellbeing needs are obvious and the bid would have given us a new centre to help tackle those needs. The minister gave no reasons for the refusal.
“This outcome makes the choice at the next election even more clear and stark than it was already. This is a government which has run out of steam, run out of ideas and has delivered a judgement that our area did not deserve.”
Fellow MP Jane Stevenson (Wolverhampton NE) said: “I am disappointed that Wolverhampton’s levelling up bids in this second round have not been successful. I sat down with levelling up minister Dehenna Davison yesterday to discuss how we could improve our bids for the next funding round. "
Sureena Brackenridge, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Wolverhampton NE, added: “It’s deeply disappointing to learn that Wolverhampton has been given zero levelling-up money from the government. It’s even more frustrating to see areas in the south receive hundreds of millions of pounds – including £151m to London. Surely levelling up is about rebalancing places like the West Midlands with successful cities like London?
“Wolverhampton needs high-paid, high-quality jobs, improved housing and better public services, but the Tories have let the city down once again and decided to focus on their Conservative heartlands.”
Today’s levelling up announcement comes ahead of a third round of bidding which is due to be announced shortly.