Boris Johnson in Cornwall: PM answers concerns about EU funding
The Prime Minister said it was his intention that the Duchy would get replacement funding from streams available to other parts of the UK
Last updated 8th Apr 2021
Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Cornwall on Wednesday and explained that it was his intention that the county would get replacement EU funding from funding streams which are also available to other parts of the UK.
Cornwall had received millions in funding from the European Union for more than 20 years after it was recognised as being one of the poorest regions in Europe.
When the UK left the EU Boris Johnson made a pledge that Cornwall would not lose out on additional funding after Brexit.
Cornwall Council had set out a bid to secure a dedicated pot of money which it said would be needed to replace the lost EU funding, totalling £100m a year.
However Mr Johnson today indicated that the lost funding would be made up through funding provided through schemes which are also available to all other parts of the UK with no special allowance for Cornwall.
Speaking in Truro's Lemon Street Market during a day visit to Cornwall, the Prime Minister highlighted money announced for Truro's Town Deal, funding provided to Newquay Airport for improvements for the G7 summit and other town deal cash as examples of how the Government is replacing the lost EU funding.
He said: "Our intention was that the EU funding would be more than made up for by the commitments that we have made so the £90m growth fund and getting building fund obviously goes a long way then we have talked about the £23m growth fund for Truro and the various other funds I have mentioned, the £10m for Penzance, the £7.8m for the airport and spaceport as it will be, next year".
However the PM then went off on a strange tangent and started asking why Cathedral City cheese does not have Truro Cathedral as its logo.
He said: "I have one question for you, one of the things we are funding through the LEP is the dairy industry in this part of the world, several million pounds to support local creamery at Davidstow, so here is my question, Cathedral City is just about the most popular Cheddars, well one of the most popular, I have to be careful, one of the popular Cheddar brands in this country and I personally am an avid consumer of it, far more than I should do, right? But Truro is obviously the cathedral city in question, isn't it? It must be as that is the local city, so why does the packet of Cathedral City Cheddar not resemble Truro Cathedral?"
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson
A quick search on Google reveals that the image on the packets is Wells Cathedral in Somerset, where the original producers were based.
Mr Johnson was also asked about the current problems facing the fishing industry and what his message was to those affected.
He responded: "The first thing is that of course I recognise the disruption and anxiety that some fishermen have had as a result of the changes and we're working flat out and I know Cherilyn (Mackrory, Truro and Falmouth MP) is working flat out with George Eustice the secretary of state to sort it out.
"Eventually of course there will be significant opportunities for UK fishing fleet, fishing industry particularly here in Cornwall, but there is no question that there have been problems in the last few months, it hasn't been helped by the collapse of the restaurant trade on the continent because of Covid and in our own restaurants, but there are unquestionable additional problems that we have had to iron out and that is why we are putting in a £2m fund for short term problems and a £10,000 fund to help individuals, that is £10,000 for individuals' logistical problems.
"What we want to do is use the £100m long term fund really to strengthen the fishing industry in Cornwall and across the whole of the UK so build their long term future because in a few years' time we are going to have access, the ability to fish all our fish in our waters and frankly we need to train people in our fishing fleet communities to be ready for that".
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson
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