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Boris Johnson gets mixed reception in flood-hit Bewdley | |
(32 minutes later) | |
The prime minister has received a mixed reaction during a visit to a flood-hit town. | |
Boris Johnson visited Bewdley in Worcestershire, where Storm Dennis saw flood defences overtopped by the River Severn last month. | Boris Johnson visited Bewdley in Worcestershire, where Storm Dennis saw flood defences overtopped by the River Severn last month. |
One onlooker shouted "traitor" at the prime minister, who also posed for selfies with teenagers on a bridge. | |
Earlier, the Treasury announced plans to double funding for flood defences in England over the next five years. | Earlier, the Treasury announced plans to double funding for flood defences in England over the next five years. |
The money, due to be announced on Wednesday, will help to build 2,000 new flood and coastal defence schemes and protect 336,000 properties in the country. | The money, due to be announced on Wednesday, will help to build 2,000 new flood and coastal defence schemes and protect 336,000 properties in the country. |
Mr Johnson visited the banks of the Severn where he was shown flood defences by the Environment Agency. | |
He previously had to deny "hiding" during the flooding crisis, which saw hundreds of homes evacuated. | |
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn branded Mr Johnson a "part time prime minister" who "goes Awol" during emergencies in February. | |
This year was the wettest February in the UK since records began in 1862, with more than three times the average rainfall - as three successive storms left rivers bursting their banks and communities flooded. | |
In some of the worst-hit areas in the Midlands, Wales and south Yorkshire, homes and businesses flooded three times in a matter of weeks. | |
Mr Johnson received a mixed reaction in Bewdley as he spoke to residents affected by the floods and said he would "get Bewdley done". | |
A number of people tried to shake his hand and take photos as he made his way along the river. | |
But he was also told to "do your job" as he walked along the river bank and was given a demonstration of how flood barriers work. | |
"What we're doing is we are doubling the funding for flood defences to £5.2 bn and we're also going to be looking at all the things we can do upstream," Mr Johnson said. | "What we're doing is we are doubling the funding for flood defences to £5.2 bn and we're also going to be looking at all the things we can do upstream," Mr Johnson said. |
Mr Johnson said he was "so sorry to hear" some homes had been overwhelmed by as much as 2ft of water. | |
He also met with members of the emergency services who responded when the water levels rose. | |
The prime minister said he had discussed "what permanent defences we can put in and what's the business case" with the Environment Agency (EA). | |
Environment Secretary George Eustice visited Ironbridge and Shrewsbury, which were particularly badly hit, on 27 February and defended the prime minister for not visiting himself. | Environment Secretary George Eustice visited Ironbridge and Shrewsbury, which were particularly badly hit, on 27 February and defended the prime minister for not visiting himself. |
Local Conservative MPs also stopped short of calling on the prime minister to visit the flooded areas, with Bewdley MP Mark Garnier saying a visit would have been nothing more than a "photo opportunity". | Local Conservative MPs also stopped short of calling on the prime minister to visit the flooded areas, with Bewdley MP Mark Garnier saying a visit would have been nothing more than a "photo opportunity". |
Dave Throup, from the EA, said further heavy rain forecast for Monday and Tuesday meant there were further "significant" risks of flooding along the Severn next week. | Dave Throup, from the EA, said further heavy rain forecast for Monday and Tuesday meant there were further "significant" risks of flooding along the Severn next week. |
Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. |