The Tory general election campaign faces accusations of using levelling up funds for political gain as Rishi Sunak prepares to debate Keir Starmer. More than half of the regeneration funding promised to 30 towns went to Tory constituencies, sparking controversy. Labour is currently leading by 20 points in the polls, the largest margin since Liz Truss’s tenure.
Despite facing internal challenges, Labour’s support has increased, while the Tories have seen a decrease. Sunak’s announcement of a form of mandatory National Service for 18-year-olds was met with more criticism than approval. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has criticized Conservative proposals for leaving the UK’s poorest regions worse off.
The controversy over the regeneration funding has led to accusations of political motives instead of genuine levelling up efforts. Key figures like Henri Murison have criticized the move as a bid for votes rather than true economic development.
In response, Sunak defended the party’s allocation of funds to overlooked areas since 2019, emphasizing the need for levelling up in the most deprived towns. The upcoming TV debate between Sunak and Starmer will be crucial in shaping the election narrative.
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