Funding for Cornwall Looking Shaky

Funding for Cornwall looking shaky post the referendum decision to leave the EU. Despite local Tory MP reassurances that the Government would make good payments to Cornwall, their words are not being backed with anything so definite from the Government.

 

Cornwall Council Press Release: Julian German, Cornwall Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Culture, said “Following the Chancellor’s statement on European funding, I estimate that Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly could lose out on £350m of funding that would have helped our residents and local businesses.

“The limited guarantee for some schemes leaves Cornwall hundreds of millions of pounds short of what we were promised we would receive by MPs who backed the Brexit campaign. Major funding streams such as contracts for EU structural funds and European Maritime Fisheries projects beginning after the Autumn Statement have no guarantee of continuation at all. This simply isn’t good enough.

“Cornwall Council is supporting the Local Government Association’s campaign for all EU funds to be honoured. With the continuing reduction in our funding from the Government,  EU funding, or its replacement, is vital to support economic regeneration, helping individuals to gain new skills and businesses to create well paid jobs.

“Unlike UK funding streams, EU funding has been allocated according to need. This is a really important point for Government to remember and Cornwall Council will keep advocating for resource which is focused on closing the economic and skills gap between Cornwall and the rest of the UK.

“We will work hard with our MPs and partners to try and secure the funding that will otherwise be lost to the residents and businesses of Cornwall. Cornwall Council will also be working closely with government to ensure that as many projects as possible are contracted before the Autumn Statement deadline.”