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Tory leadership: I took money out of deprived urban areas, says Sunak Tory leadership: I took money out of deprived urban areas, says Sunak
(32 minutes later)
Rishi Sunak: I diverted money from deprived urban areasRishi Sunak: I diverted money from deprived urban areas
Rishi Sunak: I diverted money from deprived urban areasRishi Sunak: I diverted money from deprived urban areas
A clip has emerged of ex-Chancellor Rishi Sunak saying he diverted public money from "deprived urban areas".A clip has emerged of ex-Chancellor Rishi Sunak saying he diverted public money from "deprived urban areas".
In a video the New Statesman has obtained, the Tory leadership candidate tells an audience in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, he wanted to ensure "areas like this" got the funding they deserved.In a video the New Statesman has obtained, the Tory leadership candidate tells an audience in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, he wanted to ensure "areas like this" got the funding they deserved.
Allies say he was referring to changing "outdated" rules to better reflect need in rural areas and towns. Defending his remarks, Mr Sunak said he was arguing that towns and rural areas needed help not just "big urban areas".
Labour said the leadership race was revealing the Tories' "true colours".Labour said the leadership race was revealing the Tories' "true colours".
The party's shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy said: "It's scandalous that Rishi Sunak is openly boasting that he fixed the rules to funnel taxpayers' money to prosperous Tory shires."The party's shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy said: "It's scandalous that Rishi Sunak is openly boasting that he fixed the rules to funnel taxpayers' money to prosperous Tory shires."
Ms Nandy has written to Levelling Up Secretary Greg Clark asking him to "urgently investigate" the changes made by Mr Sunak to funding formulas.Ms Nandy has written to Levelling Up Secretary Greg Clark asking him to "urgently investigate" the changes made by Mr Sunak to funding formulas.
Pressure is on for next PM to tackle economy swiftlyPressure is on for next PM to tackle economy swiftly
What are the policies of final two hoping to be PM?What are the policies of final two hoping to be PM?
Truss and Sunak row over Bank's recession warningTruss and Sunak row over Bank's recession warning
In the clip - filmed on 29 July - Mr Sunak says: "I managed to start changing the funding formulas, to make sure areas like this are getting the funding they deserve.In the clip - filmed on 29 July - Mr Sunak says: "I managed to start changing the funding formulas, to make sure areas like this are getting the funding they deserve.
"We inherited a bunch of formulas from Labour that shoved all the funding into deprived urban areas and that needed to be undone."We inherited a bunch of formulas from Labour that shoved all the funding into deprived urban areas and that needed to be undone.
"I started the work of undoing that.""I started the work of undoing that."
Mr Sunak's team have said he was referring to changes to Treasury rules on investment and the introduction of the levelling up fund. Mr Sunak's team have said his comment were in reference to the introduction of the levelling up fund and changes made to Treasury formulas on investment.
In 2020 the government announced that Treasury equations would be updated to prioritise spending which had regional impact. The government has changed the way it assesses projects by altering the Treasury's "green book", which guides ministers in making investment decisions.
Setting out the levelling up fund in November 2020, ministers said they would prioritise bids "to drive growth and regeneration in places in need, those facing particular challenges, and areas that have received less government investment in recent years".
The government has changed the way it assesses projects by altering the "green book", which guides ministers in making investment decisions.
Some submissions to a review of the "green book" in 2020 suggested that the old system relied too much on cost-benefit analysis (how much monetary value can be created for how many people) and that this skewed the system towards building more infrastructure in London and the South East of England.Some submissions to a review of the "green book" in 2020 suggested that the old system relied too much on cost-benefit analysis (how much monetary value can be created for how many people) and that this skewed the system towards building more infrastructure in London and the South East of England.
But as Tunbridge Wells is in the South East of England, changing that would not necessarily help it. It is also the least deprived local authority in Kent, according to the index of multiple deprivation.But as Tunbridge Wells is in the South East of England, changing that would not necessarily help it. It is also the least deprived local authority in Kent, according to the index of multiple deprivation.
The system was changed to require projects to explain how they would promote government priorities such as levelling up or achieving net zero emissions, before considering their costs and benefits.The system was changed to require projects to explain how they would promote government priorities such as levelling up or achieving net zero emissions, before considering their costs and benefits.
This means funding will not necessarily go to the "deprived urban areas" where the largest number of people might benefit, but can instead go to more sparsely populated ones that have not received much investment in the past.This means funding will not necessarily go to the "deprived urban areas" where the largest number of people might benefit, but can instead go to more sparsely populated ones that have not received much investment in the past.
A spokesperson for Mr Sunak said: "Levelling up isn't just about city centres, it's also about towns and rural areas all over the country that need help too." Asked on Friday about his comments, Mr Sunak said he was "making the point that deprivation exists right across our country".
"Travelling around the country, he's seen non-metropolitan areas that need better bus services, faster broadband in towns, or high quality schools. That's what he'll deliver as prime minister." He argued that funding formulas that failed to recognise that were "out of date" and "needed changing".
And Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen - a Sunak supporter - told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme the clip had been taken out of context, adding: "What he was getting across was why is it that poor urban areas receive significantly higher funding than poor rural or town areas."And Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen - a Sunak supporter - told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme the clip had been taken out of context, adding: "What he was getting across was why is it that poor urban areas receive significantly higher funding than poor rural or town areas."
Liz Truss is competing with Rishi Sunak to become the next prime minister
He said places such as Devon, Teesside and parts of Tunbridge Wells needed fairer funding.He said places such as Devon, Teesside and parts of Tunbridge Wells needed fairer funding.
But Conservative MP and Truss ally Jake Berry tweeted: "In public Rishi Sunak claims he wants to level up the North, but here, he boasts about trying to funnel vital investment away from deprived areas? He says one thing and does another."But Conservative MP and Truss ally Jake Berry tweeted: "In public Rishi Sunak claims he wants to level up the North, but here, he boasts about trying to funnel vital investment away from deprived areas? He says one thing and does another."
Rishi Sunak's comments appear to fly in the face of recent Conservative rhetoric about levelling up and securing Labour's former "red wall".Rishi Sunak's comments appear to fly in the face of recent Conservative rhetoric about levelling up and securing Labour's former "red wall".
Why would the former chancellor be boasting about diverting funding away from deprived urban areas?Why would the former chancellor be boasting about diverting funding away from deprived urban areas?
In short, because he was in Royal Tunbridge Wells at the time, one of his party's traditional heartlands, speaking to grassroots members.In short, because he was in Royal Tunbridge Wells at the time, one of his party's traditional heartlands, speaking to grassroots members.
And while the Conservative party doesn't publish data on its membership, research shows most of them live in the South East of England, and are generally older and relatively wealthy.And while the Conservative party doesn't publish data on its membership, research shows most of them live in the South East of England, and are generally older and relatively wealthy.
Mr Sunak's team insist he was talking about changes to ensure pockets of deprivation in towns and rural areas got the funding they deserved.Mr Sunak's team insist he was talking about changes to ensure pockets of deprivation in towns and rural areas got the funding they deserved.
His opponents will seize on his comments as not just clumsy, but another example of him appearing to be out of touch.His opponents will seize on his comments as not just clumsy, but another example of him appearing to be out of touch.
A Truss campaign source said: "Levelling up isn't about pitting one area of the country against another, or laying dividing lines between urban v rural, towns v cities.A Truss campaign source said: "Levelling up isn't about pitting one area of the country against another, or laying dividing lines between urban v rural, towns v cities.
"It is about unleashing growth and making sure every individual has the chance to thrive. Liz has a plan to create an aspiration nation based on equality of opportunity, and will deliver it in a conservative way.""It is about unleashing growth and making sure every individual has the chance to thrive. Liz has a plan to create an aspiration nation based on equality of opportunity, and will deliver it in a conservative way."
The comments were made as part of Mr Sunak's campaign bid to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and prime minister.The comments were made as part of Mr Sunak's campaign bid to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and prime minister.
He is competing against Ms Truss, who polls suggest is more popular among Conservative members.He is competing against Ms Truss, who polls suggest is more popular among Conservative members.