Stephen Morgan MP has called on the Prime Minister to back the city’s submission for the second round of levelling up funding to ‘improve everyday life’ and ‘restore pride in place’.
The Conservative Government was elected in 2019 on a flagship promise to level up parts of the country that have experienced relative economic decline, including areas like Portsmouth.
Mr Morgan worked with the council and others earlier this year to submit its bid for the second round of levelling up funding, and has called on constituents to ‘back the bid’ to ensure government delivers the investment the city needs.
The MP has hosted roundtable discussions with local businesses, met with relevant traders, held meetings with the university and raised the need for fairer funding for his constituency in Parliament and with Ministers directly.
However, in a letter to Rishi Sunak this week, the Portsmouth MP raised concerns about comments he had made in the summer on changes to local funding formulas.
Speaking to voters in Tunbridge Wells, the then Chancellor said he took steps to amend funding formulas so similar areas got ‘the funding they deserve’, adding that ‘funding into deprived urban areas…needed to be undone’.
It comes as Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has called on the government to launch an independent investigation into the comments made by the Prime Minister.
The Member of Parliament of Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, said:
“After years of neglect, it’s vital Portsmouth gets the investment it needs from government to put the heart back into our city centre and boost the local economy.
“That’s why I’ve written to the Prime Minister to address concerns about comments he made that suggest, as Chancellor, he looked to funnel money away from places like Portsmouth, to less deserving Tory heartlands.
“His comments undermine the trust and confidence of the British public, and will be deeply troubling to many of my constituents who would significantly benefit from funding from government, putting the heart back into our city centre and improving local transport accessibility.
“I will continue to lobby government to ensure it delivers the investment Portsmouth needs and deserves. The Prime Minister can do just that by securing the funding our city is crying out for.”
Constituents can sign up to the City MP’s campaign to ‘back the bid’ via his website: www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/backthebid/
