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Billions for levelling up ‘wasted’ as ministers pick wrong projects and ignore ‘what works’, study warnsBillions of pounds spent on “levelling up” may be wasted because ministers are picking projects too small to revive poorer areas and failing to analyse “what works”, a damning report warns.The study – released as a long-delayed blueprint for Boris Johnson’s flagship policy is unveiled – sharply criticises grants from the £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund and £3.2bn Towns Fund for not being “based on evidence”.The report comes after criticism of “pork barrel politics” as allocations from the two funds favoured Conservative areas – for voter-friendly improvements such as libraries and leisure centres.
Boris Johnson alleged to have attended more events detailed in Sue Gray's partygate reportThe prime minister was reportedly in his No 10 flat on the night of an event being investigated by the police amid claims it broke lockdown rules.According to The Telegraph, the prime minister is also said to have spoken at two more leaving dos which are the subject of Scotland Yard inquiries.One such event police are investigating is an alleged gathering in the Downing Street flat on November 13, 2020 - the night Mr Johnson's chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, left No 10 amid the acrimonious fall-out of an internal power struggle.The Telegraph reported Boris Johnson was spotted heading up to his flat on this date.A number of Abba songs, including The Winner Takes It All, could be heard coming from the flat, The Mail On Sunday reported earlier this week.On Monday, the prime minister repeatedly refused to say if he was there.Carrie Johnson, the PM's wife, was reportedly there that evening, the newspaper said.
Levelling up strategy cut-and-pasted from Theresa May’s abandoned plans, MP revealsThe “12 missions” at the heart of the government’s levelling up strategy have been largely cut-and-pasted from Theresa May’s abandoned plans, it has emerged.No fewer than eight of the 12 targets for reviving poorer areas have been rehashed from a 2017 Industrial Strategy which was shelved by Boris Johnson, a Labour MP is protesting.“This is essentially the recently scrapped Industrial Strategy rebranded as Levelling Up,” said Darren Jones, the chair of the Commons business committee.The criticism comes after Michael Gove admitted he had lost a cabinet battle with Rishi Sunak for extra cash, which means the flagship strategy will receive no new funding.Instead, it will signal a return to Labour-style target-setting – abolished by David Cameron in 2010 – with a warning it will take the rest of the 2020s to reap success.
Boris Johnson facing further calls to resign amid parties rowBoris Johnson is facing further calls to resign, with Tobias Ellwood joining those Tory MPs urging a vote on his premiership.The former minister said he had submitted a letter of no confidence in the PM, amid the ongoing row over lockdown parties in Downing Street.Devon MP Anthony Mangnall also revealed on Wednesday he has done the same, criticising Mr Johnson's "mistruths".
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Topic: 02/02/20 (Read 1575 times)
