PM urges ministers to approve £1.6bn Brexit fund for ‘forgotten’ towns to woo Labour MPs

THERESA MAY is urging Ministers to approve a £1.6BILLION Brexit fund for “forgotten” towns in a bid to woo Labour MPs.

A proposal for a seven-year ‘Coalfields and Coastal Communities’ programme would see almost £90million spent on the Black Country.

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And some £57million would go to Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire – home to the Bassetlaw constituency of Labour ‘Leaver’ John Mann.

In all some 26 of 38 ‘local enterprise partnerships’ will get money – with London among the few areas to miss out completely.

Details of the project emerged last month – leading to furious accusations from Labour ‘Remain’ MPs that the PM was trying to “bribe” their colleagues into backing her deal.

The new papers circulating around Cabinet for the first time reveal the amount of funding.

At least £1billion has already been allocated with a £600million pot held “in reserve”.

No.10 see the money as critical in securing a parliamentary majority for the PM’s Brexit deal.

LABOUR FUND PLEA

It is likely to go on improving infrastructure from roads to faster broadband.

Downing Street aides want the policy signed off for this week – and expect it to form a central part of the Chancellor’s upcoming Spring Statement.

Papers circulated around the Cabinet suggest the money is critical for helping communities that have been “left behind”.

The Sun last month revealed coastal communities in many Tory areas – such as Great Yarmouth and Clacton – were also likely to share in the funding.

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Labour ‘Remainer’ Ben Bradshaw stormed: “This is desperate stuff from a Government that has hammered Britain’s left behind communities.

“May is not to be trusted and I hope no Labour MP will fall or this blatant attempt to bribe them into backing Theresa May’s dodgy Brexit deal.”

When details of the fund first emerged, Labour ‘Remainer’ David Lammy told Labour MPs that anyone who accepts the money would be branded a “coward and facilitator”.

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