ConDems cut funding

 ConDems cut funds to South Yorkshire

According to the EU Cohesion policy one of the main objectives of funding is to promote smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, and reward performance.

The cuts in EU funding imposed on this area by the ConDems while giving more money to the more prosperous areas of the country reek of discrimination against the North of England. One of the main polices in the EU Cohesion policy 2014 – 2020 is to support regions like South Yorkshire, are the Government proposing to go head to head with the EU? I suppose given their history in this area I suppose they are.

 The cohesion policy is quite clear that regions with a low GDP must be a priority for funding. Scotland has a higher GDP than South Yorkshire, Northern Ireland has a higher GDP than South Yorkshire yet the Government is proposing to increase funding to these areas while cutting funding to South Yorkshire. It may well be that Cameron thinks Clegg will follow the advice of the Pope and withdraw before the event and leave the coalition. Leaving Cameron with the option of buying the votes of Northern Irish MP’s to prop up is minority administration. Let me tell him beware of the lessons of history when depending on the votes of Unionist MP’s.

According to the EU the European Regional Development Fund is to support and assist research and development and innovation. Improving access to and quality of information and communication technologies. Business support for SME’s, telecommunications, energy and transport infrastructure. Health education and social infrastructure and sustainable urban development.

 Which of these does the Government think we can do without in South Yorkshire?

The cohesion policy document is clear that funds should be directed to regions working towards a low carbon economy, exactly what this Council is doing.

Danny Alexander has managed to convince his Tory masters that his fellow Scots in the Highlands and Islands deserve funding worth six times more per head than the funding in South Yorkshire. Was Clegg out of the room when this was agreed? Why is he not standing up for the people of Sheffield?

Last week Hallam Labour Party selected their candidate Oliver Coppard to be the next MP for Hallam.  A local person who will stand up for Sheffield and the people of Sheffield.

Once again a Tory PM is running scared of his backbenchers by allowing Tory Eurosceptic MP’s to dictate policy. 

Lord Howe said this week ‘it’s a tragic expression of our shrinking influence and the humbling of our ambitions to remain a serious political player’

It was Disraeli who said that Nations should be glorious. The UK can be but it’s time this Government realised the map is no longer coloured pink and that they live on a small island off the coast of Europe. 

It’s time we had a Government that keeps us at the heart of Europe and stands up and fights for the rights of all the people in the UK.