News from East Midlands Labour

East Midlands Minister asks Tory MP which services would face cuts?

Labour’s Regional Minister for the East Midlands, Phil Hope MP, has written to Alan Duncan MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and MP for Rutland and Melton, demanding to know whether he supports David Cameron’s cuts to key services in the area.

In the letter Phil Hope says:

“In 2009 we face a crucial choice: to continue to invest in key services in the East Midlands in difficult times, or to make deep cuts in public spending that would damage the East Midlands.

“As you will be aware, as part of the fiscal stimulus we recently announced that we would bring forward £3 billion of investment in housing, schools, and GP surgeries.

“I am disappointed that your party have opposed this action. It is crucial that we bring forward investment to ensure that we come out of the downturn sooner and stronger, and ready to take advantage of the upturn.”

David Cameron has made it clear that he opposes Labour’s economic stimulus and the Conservatives voted against the Pre-Budget Report which introduced these measures.

In the East Midlands the following projects would suffer under Conservative plans:
* The dualling of the A46 between Newark and Widmerpool
* Funding brought forward to rebuild or refurbish half of England’s 17,000 primary schools over 14 years including schools in Leicester, Lincolnshire, Derby, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
* Accelerated investment in GPs surgeries
* Investment brought forward to increase energy efficiency in council homes
* £2.2m of Funding brought forward to create and improve play areas in Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Other news from East Midlands Labour

• New figures reveal Car Srappage Scheme's success in the East Midlands - 15 January 2010
• It would be great to see "football coming home to Nottingham" - 17 December 2009
• Housing projects in the East Midlands short-listed for welcome cash boost - 16 December 2009