Murdo Fraser MSP has described the decision by the Labour UK Government to withdraw £5 million of Levelling Up funds for Perth City as “disgraceful.”
The Scottish Conservative politician was commenting following the recent UK Budget by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, which has seen the funding promise withdrawn.
The Levelling Up scheme was created by the previous Conservative Government with millions of pounds promised to Perth, Dundee, Arbroath, Dunfermline and Stirling. However, there were some concerns after Labour took office in July that the promised cash would definitely be granted.
Commenting, Mr Fraser said: “The decision by the Labour Government to withdraw the Levelling Up funding is disgraceful and is a bitter pill to swallow. This was vital funding that would have helped make community projects in Perth a reality. It would also have directly empowered Perth and Kinross Council by giving the money to them, which is exactly what our councils need after years of savage SNP cuts to their budgets.
“The Levelling Up Funding was a positive move by the previous Conservative UK Government so it is bitterly disappointing to be told that it has now been withdrawn by Labour. It would have led to a boost in job opportunities and rejuvenated communities in the region.
“Instead, Labour's UK Budget will see higher taxes for working people and businesses in Perth and across the UK with increases in national insurance, increases in capital gains and increases in inheritance tax. The tax rises announced by the Chancellor are the biggest tax rises on record and it is forecast that they will seriously damage economic growth in the UK.”
