The Conservative Government’s announcements on the “levelling-up” agenda included dropping targets for gigabit broadband across the country, on the heels of dropping high speed rail lines across the north.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “The Government has abandoned crucial targets, and failed to provide the funding needed to meet these new ones. It is a fig leaf for a Prime Minister who everyone can see for what he is.”
“If the Government is serious about levelling up, why has it just abandoned plans for local high speed rail? “Why is it loading the bill for social care on to local council tax payers, particularly those like Oldham? “Why did it abandon its target for high-speed broadband to 85% of homes by 2025?
“Levelling-up is just the latest Tory buzzword and has no substance whatsoever – I hope people are not conned by it.”