Objective One funding for Cornwall

TYLER SHOCK AT TORY ‘BETRAYAL’

Contributing to a Commons debate on EU finances, North Cornwall MP, Paul Tyler, condemned Conservative capitulation to Government plans, which would remove vital Objective One funding from Cornwall.

The Conservative spokesman expressed enthusiasm for the Government plans, saying, “I again welcome the Government’s approach.  I agree with their policy of taking back control of structural funds.”

Responding in the Commons, Mr Tyler said, “to deny the useful contribution it [EU funding] has made to our [Cornish] economy seems to be extraordinary.”

Continuing to attack the Labour Government for threatening ‘Objective One’ funding to Cornwall, Mr Tyler told MPs, “The Chancellor seems all too anxious to carve up the most cost-effective EU regional programmes, while failing to insist on CAP pruning and meaningful audit tracking of waste.”

Commenting after the debate, the North Cornwall MP said “the cat is out of the bag – in the admittedly unlikely event of a Conservative Government our Objective One status would go.  I wonder what Tory candidates in Cornwall would say to that.

“I am appalled at the Conservatives’ willingness to sign up to Gordon Brown’s ‘smash and grab’ raid on Cornish funding.  I know Cornwall has been a Conservative-free zone in recent years but I hadn’t been aware that they had become quite so out of touch with Cornish needs.  This EU funding – worth £300 million over five years –has been vital for employment and economic development here.”

North Cornwall received £5.2m from the EU in 2004, and the Restormel area has received £12m over the five years, including £2.8m for Eden and £33,000 for Newquay Harbour.  Mr Tyler continued, “I look forward to seeing Conservative candidates in the coming County elections – and in the expected general election – telling voters which projects they would scrap.  Do they believe, for example, that Boscastle should repay the £10,000 it has received from the EU for reconstruction?

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“Of course there are problems with the way Europe works and how the funds are monitored.  I argued strongly against the Franco/German carve-of the Common Agricultural Policy, for example, but the Tories’ squalid deal with Gordon Brown over regional aid is a shameless betrayal of Cornwall.

“If this is their attitude, the Conservative Party in London cannot be surprised if they wake up after the General Election to a Tory-free Cornwall once again.”

ENDS