Dave Hodgson - Mayor of Bedford Borough

Tiny Stronger Towns Fund Dwarfed by Government Cuts to Funding for Services, Says Mayor Dave

Commenting on the news that the East of England will be allocated £25 million over seven years from the Stronger Towns Fund launched by the government today, Mayor Dave Hodgson has said that any funding received by Bedford Borough under this 'tiny' fund would be 'dwarfed' by the vast, ongoing cuts to government funding for public services.

Mayor Dave said: "If any of this money comes to Bedford at all it will be a tiny amount. Not only is it tiny, but any one-off funding we might get as a share of this will be dwarfed by the £24 million cut in our main annual government grant since 2015. That's £24 million less every year for local services, on top of government cuts to health, police, schools and other public services."

"Whether it be the bung to the DUP or this attempted bribe for northern MPs, it seems that whenever Theresa May tries to buy votes in parliament it involves the Government spending Bedford Borough taxpayers' money on other parts of the country."

The total £1.6 billion fund is split into £1bn which will be allocated across the country via a formula which will see the East of England receive £25 million over seven years, plus £600m communities can bid for.

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