The news that the UK Treasury has finally announced that the £4.8 billion "levelling up fund" for local projects will now be UK-wide, not England only. This means that Westminster ministers will decide how some of the cash is spent on schemes such as regeneration projects in Wales.
Even the normally inert Welsh Government, has accused the Westminster government of aggressively undermining devolution. The announcement of £4 billion for England last year triggered an extra £800 million for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
However, the Treasury now says it will run the fund for all four UK nations rather than hand any extra cash to the devolved governments. The UK chancellor's Spending Review, had previously announced thats the first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland would have been able to decide what to do with their share of the £800 million.
To be honest I accent say atheist I am that surprised by this announcement, so much for the BREXIT dividend coming our way without some serious strings being attached. The simple bottom line is that any funds allocated to Cymru / Wales are spent and on what, should be decided here in Cymru / Wales, rathe the in Westminster.
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