Flood-hit areas to miss out on EU funding

A combination of "Labour's careless spending and the Conservatives' mean-spiritedness" means flood-hit areas across the North of England will miss out on millions of pounds' worth of EU flood funding.

The EU has given the UK €60million to help flood-hit areas following the devastation caused by last winter's floods. Once the changes to the UK's budget rebate are taken into account, this leaves a net total of around £15 million.

However, the government has decided not to pass on this cash to the areas that were affected by flooding. Instead, the government will use the money to pay a £14.5million fine which it faces due to the Labour government misspending money which it was allocated under the EU Solidarity Fund following floods in Southern England in 2007. Money was spent on projects for which it was not eligible.

Tim said: "Labour's careless spending and the Conservatives' mean-spiritedness have combined to deprive flood-hit areas of much needed funds.

"The government have left bridges unbuilt, communities isolated and because the TV cameras moved on, so did they.

"Labour's overspending has hurt the North and all those affected by last year's floods.

"But it is the Conservative's mean-spiritedness which means they have chosen to use this money to pay the fine, instead of passing this money onto flood-affected areas and paying the fine from Treasury coffers."