As I write this the news of the concessions the Prime
Minister has secured on the EU Withdrawal Agreement has just been announced.
Whilst I will wait to see the detail and importantly the legal advice, this
does sound like a big step in the right direction to address the concerns I and
many others have on the backstop.
The key for me is that these concessions are legal binding
and allow us to exit the backstop should we need to, as well as ensuring that
the backstop does not become the template for our future relationship with the
EU. If I am assured on these matters then there is every chance I will be able
to back the Withdrawal Agreement in order for us to leave the EU at the end of
the month.
Last week’s news was dominated locally by the Government’s
announcement of the new £1.6bn Stronger Towns Fund.
The Government said the Stronger Towns Fund will be targeted
at places that have not shared in the proceeds of growth in the same way as
more prosperous parts of the country. It will be used to create new jobs, help
train local people and boost economic activity – with communities having a say
on how the money is spent.
However on reading the detail of the announcement, I was
concerned that despite having some of the lowest wages and highest levels of
deprivation in the country, Cornwall has been grouped with the south west and
as such will be receiving a relatively small amount of the £1.6bn fund (£33m)
compared to other areas, according to initial figures given.
However we should not make this into something more than it
is.
It is clear that this is an attempt by the Prime Minister to
seek to influence Labour MPs in the North to back her Brexit deal.
The allocation has been targeted at large towns (over 30k
population) - we don't have any large towns like this in Cornwall.
However as pointed out by the Secretary of State for
Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire when I questioned him on
this in Parliament last Monday, there will be a pot of £600m from this fund
that is available for smaller towns to bid into. In response to my question the
Secretary of State also stated he wants Cornish Towns to bid into this fund.
Some have sought to make a connection between this and the
replacement for European Regional Development Fund funding once we leave the
European Union.
Those seeking to make this connection either do not
understand what this fund is, or sadly understand but are choosing to
deliberately misrepresent this for political purposes. It is interesting that all those doing so are
those opposed to Brexit.
The Secretary of State made clear in his response to my
question that there is no connection between this fund and the future Shared
Prosperity Fund.
While I think the Prime Minister has made a mistake in using
this fund to influence MPs in the North to back her deal whilst upsetting her
own MPs in the South West, I also think we need to see through the slightly
pathetic attempts of those opposed go Brexit to turn this into something it is
not.
I am confident that the government will continue to support
the Cornish economy after Brexit through the Shared Prosperity Fund and I will
continue to press at all levels of Government for more details of this fund to
be brought forward.
My team and I are here to serve the whole constituency and
work hard to make a real difference to the lives of everyone needing support.
The office is open to the public Monday – Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm (no
appointment necessary). If there is an issue you would like my assistance on
then please, either visit the office or contact me on either 01726 829379 or
office@stevedouble.org.uk. Additionally, I hold regular, appointment only,
advice surgeries across the constituency. Dates of these can be found at:
www.stevedouble.org.uk/events
