Moray SNP News

LOCHHEAD RESPONDS TO LEVELLING UP SNUB FOR MORAY BY TORY UK GOVERNMENT

Responding to the UK Government’s announcement that Moray will not receive any Levelling Up funds from the Tory UK Government, Moray’s MSP Richard Lochhead said: 

“It is a huge blow for Moray that the council’s bid for levelling up funding from the UK Government has been snubbed. Moray Council’s bid would have seen Elgin Town Centre rejuvenated and would have helped create a number of new jobs in the area. Not one penny of the £3.8 billion over two rounds has made its way to Moray.

“Rural areas like Moray are missing out whilst the UK Government has managed to ensure there’s funding for the Prime Minister’s own constituency which submitted a similar bid for a similar amount. Is anyone seriously saying that the PM’s constituency has more of a case for levelling up support than Moray?

“While the Scottish Government welcomes all extra funding for Scotland, it is unacceptable for the UK Government to decide how money is spent in areas of devolved responsibility.

“The Fund gives little consideration to Scotland’s longstanding economic needs or remote, rural, and sparsely populated regions by using a methodology which takes no account of these distinct needs. It is incredibly disappointing that applications from some of Scotland’s most deprived areas have been unsuccessful.

“It’s been clear from the very start that the UK Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda simply means Moray losing out. It is incredible to think that our region, with some of the biggest barriers to economic development will receive zero funding and it destroys any claims by the Conservative Party that they understand or care about the needs of Scotland’s rural communities.”