Foord: Sunak has abandoned the South West

The Liberal Democrats have called out the Conservatives for “abandoning the South West”, with only one town in thirty in their town funding announcement today being from the region.

The Long Term Plan for Towns has only ever included one other town in the South West since it was launched in 2023.

By contrast, six towns in the West Midlands, six in the East Midlands and four in the North West are on today’s Conservative list.

Richard Foord, the party’s candidate for Honiton and Sidmouth, says that “Rishi Sunak has clearly forgotten” about the South West and called for the region to get its fair share of funding.

Richard Foord said:

“The Conservatives have almost abandoned the West Country entirely with this announcement. Our region has been let down and taken for granted yet again, just as it has been for years. Their hollow ‘levelling up’ agenda has failed to deliver and forced areas to compete with one another for crumbs from the table.

“The South West is struggling with the continuing cost-of-living pressures, raw sewage tainting our rivers and beaches, and our rural health services that have been pushed to breaking point.

“But Rishi Sunak seems to be living in a fantasy land and has clearly forgotten about what our region needs - proper funding for local councils, alongside the power to make investments that will improve people’s lives.

"Liberal Democrats will put our communities and high streets first, by reforming the outdated business rate system to encourage new businesses to invest in our high streets. We would invest in our rural communities properly, rather than leaving them behind like the Conservatives.

“Voters know that the Liberal Democrats are the principal challenger to the Conservatives across rural and coastal parts of the South West. It’s time to elect a local champion who will put our communities first.”