BORIS Johnson will today pledge to pour billions of pounds into a swathe of left-behind towns in a bid to win over their pro-Brexit Labour voters.
A three pronged package to turbo charge redevelopment away from the big cities is being unveiled by the Tories.
Boris Johnson will pledge to pour billions of pounds into 100 left-behind towns in a bid to win over their pro-Brexit Labour voters
Boris Johnson has also pledged cash to boost the NHS pictured here at at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambs
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick today publishes a pathway for councils to unlock a 3.6billion windfall – dubbed the Towns Fund – to revitalise scores of the neglected areas.
The jumbo pot is being shared by 100 of the forgotten towns, who will each get at least 25m to spend how they want.
The cash can be used to redevelop vacant high street eyesores, reverse declines in local transport, or on more housing and better leisure facilities.
Many of the beneficiaries picked are constituencies that feature high up on the Tories list of key Northern targets that they must gain from Labour to win a Commons majority.
They include Barrow-in-Furness, Bolton, Bishop Auckland, Dewsbury and Workington the Cumbria town that has given its name to the key voter Boris needs to win round for December 12, Workington Man.
Mr Jenrick said: This government is committed to levelling up all parts of the country.
We created the 3.6bn Towns Fund to help businesses grow, connect communities and give people the skills they need to succeed.
REVERSE DECLINE
Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry added: We are giving local people the money and power to decide what is best for their town because they know their communitys unique strengths.
Also today, Chancellor Sajid Javid announces 250million for infrastructure projects that will pave the way to build 20,000 more homes.
The cash for roads, schools and utilities will go to seven places across the Midlands, the East of England and South East.
Several of them are also Tory target seats, such as Ipswich which Labour took from the Tories in the 2017 election.
And in the third initiative, the Department for Education is injecting millions more to boost careers advice at schools in deprived areas.
On his 100th day in power yesterday, the PM contrasted his ballot box message with Jeremy Corbyns assault on the rich.
Mr Johnson said: What we want to do is lift people up invest in a high skill, high wage but low tax economy. That is the way forward to stimulate the wealth creating sector, so we have the income we need to pay for fantastic public services.
That is our pitch to the country.
He argued: Its about having both sides of the equation. Its also about supporting our fantastic, wealth creating sector.
The PM pushing his policing credential with Met boss Cressida Dick in Hendon
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick publish a pathway for councils to unlock a 3.6billion windfall
Forgotten…. Workington the Cumbria town that has given its name to the key voter Boris needs to win round for December 12, the Workington Man
Chancellor Sajid Javid will also announce 250million for infrastructure projects that will pave the way to build 20,000 more homes
