Pride in Place 2025-10-15

Simmonds criticised the programme as a 'fig leaf' to cover up a collapse in local investment due to high business rates and taxes. He raised concerns about complex governance, rebadged funding from other programmes, and suggested that funding is landing more in Labour-supporting areas.

Defends the Government's announcement, emphasises putting communities in charge, rejects accusations of process tying and fiddling with methodology, highlights a 10-year funding commitment starting immediately for phase one places.

Welcomes the investment for Stockport but criticises the previous Government's 'levelling-up' slogan as hollow and lacking substance.

Welcomes the commitment to invest in high streets and communities but questions the strategy for creating a patchwork of small ringfenced grants, acknowledges the sell-off of community assets due to funding crises and asks about plans to relieve the care funding crisis.

Welcomes the £22 million investment in Fairfield but questions if the money should be used for core council services.

Congratulates the Minister and welcomes the initiative, noting its continuity with previous Government efforts. Invites her to visit Sutton Coldfield to see how funds will be utilized effectively.

Welcomed the £20 million pride in place funding for communities, emphasising that decisions will be made by neighbourhood boards with community support and investment plans.

Expressed concerns about potential misuse of funds by local councils. Asked the Minister to introduce protections to prevent unscrupulous councils from misusing the funding.

Reaffirmed that communities and neighbourhood boards will be in control, with MPs having a say on who chairs these boards to ensure local voices are heard.

Welcomed the investment but emphasised the need for real engagement with communities. Asked about discussions regarding a replacement for the shared prosperity fund.

Announced details of a local growth fund geared towards areas needing support, such as mayoral authorities in the north and midlands.

Asked about reasons for slow disbursement of Borderlands funding and requested a full investigation into the issue.

Agreed to investigate why funds are being blocked and expressed readiness to unblock investment at pace.

Welcomed the Minister's appointment and praised the community-driven approach, contrasting it with the previous regime. Asked for assurances that community voices will be heard.

Emphasised that communities are in control, with designed programmes to ensure genuine community input and shape regeneration plans.

Welcomed the principle of empowering communities but raised concerns about social housing scarcity. Asked for government reflection on addressing this issue.

Acknowledged the critical housing issue and highlighted record investment by the Government in affordable housing.

Welcomed £20 million investment for New Addington, emphasising community decision-making. Asked about new powers given to local communities.

Reaffirmed the critical role of neighbourhood boards and community right to buy to ensure community-driven regeneration.

Asked about ensuring effective use of funds without legal challenges. Raised concerns about decision-making by unelected boards.

Emphasised the intent to repurpose premises effectively and the community-driven approach, along with capacity-building support for successful investment.

Welcomed £20 million match-funded by Labour-led Telford and Wrekin council. Asked when funds will reach communities and challenged other government agencies to align with community empowerment ethos.

Cornwall's lack of funding for deprived towns despite the end of shared prosperity funding is concerning. He requests a meeting with Fin Irwin to discuss plans for Bodmin’s Fore Street.

Welcomes Gravesham's £1.5 million investment over two years as a great opportunity to build communities and improve local economies.

Welcomed Lakenheath’s inclusion in the announcement and requested a meeting to discuss integrating new housing with transport connections from Cambridge to Haverhill.

Commends Carlisle's £20 million investment but criticises centralised decision-making and praises community-led initiatives as transformative.

Complained about Perth and Kinross being ignored, receiving no funding despite securing £5 million from the Conservatives previously.

Welcomed Rochdale's overdue investment of £20 million in Smallbridge and Hurstead, citing years of neglect by the Conservative party and Whitehall.

Asked why his constituency did not receive funding despite having places needing investment. Invited the Minister to visit his constituency.

Highlighted the negative legacy of Tory policies in Avondale Grange and praised the £20 million investment for fostering community pride and unity.

Expressed concerns about London local authorities losing core Government funding under the fairer funding review, seeking an impact assessment and transitional funding.

Highlighted the lack of facilities for young people in Friar Park and welcomed the £20 million investment as a massive difference.

Welcomed additional funding but asked about further rounds of allocation, interested in leveraging additional funding through social impact investors and philanthropists.

The Minister emphasised the Government's commitment to grassroots growth, community wealth building, and putting communities at the heart of driving change. She highlighted the use of deprivation and community needs index metrics to focus the programme on areas in most need, while acknowledging that this is part of a larger strategy involving regional mayors and local government investment.

The MP questioned why rural communities are excluded by design from the programme despite the use of deprivation metrics, citing an example where only one town on Ynys Môn meets the population threshold.

The MP expressed support for the long-term investment and emphasised that local people should have a say in how the money is spent, particularly referencing Chaddesden in Derby which has been neglected for 14 years.

The MP raised concerns about the Northern Ireland Executive and the lack of replacement for the shared prosperity fund, questioning the impact on local growth investment in Northern Ireland. She asked if discussions have been held with the Northern Ireland Office.

The MP highlighted Blackpool's deprived status as a result of Tory policies and requested details on how the £1.5 million can be used quickly to restore high streets, while inviting the Minister to visit Blackpool.

The MP welcomed the funding going into neighbouring areas but expressed concerns about the timeframe for social care review and questioned what conversations are being had with the Department of Health and Social Care.

The MP welcomed the £20 million funding going into Morecambe, stating that it shows Labour's trust in local people to spend money locally without bureaucratic hurdles. She asked for a speedy implementation of the programme.

The MP welcomed the funding package but pointed out that some deprived neighbourhoods in Birmingham have not received any funds and invited the Minister to meet him to discuss further funding needs.

The MP highlighted Peterlee’s Labour Government investment of £20 million, noting it is important that this programme gives new powers to local people to decide how the money is spent.

The MP welcomed Kingstanding's £20 million investment and asked for assurances that local residents will come first after 14 years of Conservative neglect.

The MP warmly welcomed the funding coming to Peterborough, emphasising the importance of not just bricks and mortar but changing lives through facilities such as family hubs. He highlighted the role of cooperative development in this strategy.

Welcomes the £20 million for Low Hill and an additional £1.5 million of pride in place impact funding, stressing that communities must be at the heart of deciding how to spend the money.

Welcomes the £20 million for Old Farnley but calls for empowerment and faster action from residents to deliver change with the funding.

Emphasises that Warndon in Worcester needs respect, empowerment, and community-driven decisions to utilise the £20 million commitment effectively over 10 years.

Highlights the transformative potential of £41.5 million for Portsmouth under Labour’s pride in place impact programmes, with specific focus on Paulsgrove and community-led initiatives.

Welcomes the funding allocation to Barrow Central ward, one of the most deprived areas, stressing that residents know where money should be spent for positive change.

Calls for involvement from all ages and backgrounds in Heartsease and Pilling Park to ensure the funding transforms their communities positively.

Asks for early opportunities and resources for Fleetwood, a community ready to deliver transformative changes with urgency.

Stresses the need for priority in local authority areas where acute need is evident, like Middleton, after years of Tory neglect.

Welcomes £21.5 million investment for Hartlepool, highlighting it as a sign that the people of Hartlepool have a Government and MP on their side after years of being left behind.

Highlights the need for local community involvement in East Sheppey projects, ensuring the funding is a catalyst for further change and investment.

Welcomes the funding for Thetford to increase capacity and reopen medieval church as a community space, which will support local businesses and economy.

The Bournville, Coronation and Oldmixon communities have survived despite previous Westminster neglect. The £20 million investment in Weston-super-Mare is an endorsement of community champions who kept vulnerable communities together.

Welcomes Labour Government's £20 million and £1.5 million investments into Weston and Southampton Itchen constituency, emphasising long-term stable and community-led investment as transformative for communities.

Confirms Park End and Beckfield will benefit from £20 million Pride in Place scheme. Proposes funding should be spent by the community on their priorities, not politicians or councils.

Welcomes extra funding for Hastings but criticises previous schemes under Conservatives. Questions Parchment Trust’s plans to sell the Bridge community centre in Ore on the open market, suggesting they should consider returning it to public hands.

Welcomes £40 million Pride in Place funding for neighbourhoods in Fife. Asks how funds can support local decision-making in Scottish communities under the SNP government, particularly those in areas of deprivation.

Thanks Minister for £20 million investment announcement. Criticises lack of transparency in levelling-up money allocation under the previous government, asks for assurance on transparency from this Labour Government.

Welcomes £20 million secured for Seacroft North and Monkswood. Proposes ideas and answers on how to spend money lie with local people in those communities, not politicians or the previous Tory government.