02 June 2024 , 12:57
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A Tory ‘levelling-up’ scheme to help boost employment in five struggling towns is a £165million failure with dole queues actually growing during its three years.
Our findings come after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this week pledged £20m to “transform” 30 more towns if he manages to cling on to power. He said the move would "build a secure future for our children and grandchildren." Among places given cash in 2021 was Keighley, West Yorks, netting £33.6m.
It used it to renovate the town centre and give jobs and training opportunities. But now, Universal Credit claims are up 5 per cent from 2021 at 2,945.
In Stevenage, Herts, unemployment has gone up 34 per cent to 2,010 despite a £37.5m pay out which went on leisure and commercial projects. And despite a £31.6m injection Rotherham, South Yorks, has seen joblessness rise 24 per cent with 700 more on the dole.
It spent the money revamping the high street and local transport. Southport, Merseyside, got £37.5m but UC claims the are up 2 per cent. And Staveley, Cumbria, had a £23.2m injection but claims there have soared by 33 per cent.
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Keighley jobs campaigner Trevor Walford, 67, slammed the “pointless” scheme, adding: “Rishi Sunak can throw as much money as he likes to our towns but until there is a support network of qualified people helping young people, nothing will change.”
The Tory "levelling-up" of 55 UK towns began last September. Labour has branded it a “phoney gimmick” that failed to deliver economic growth.
Keir Starmer said yesterday his party "will set about reforming work support to get more people into work", insisting "those who can work, will work."