Will the South West be shortchanged again, as Cable announces 'spare' list
Business Secretary Vince Cable's pledge to spare the North East, North West and West Midlands from the worst of the public spending cuts is an outrage.
The South West RDA initially believed it would have to cut around £20 million if the savings were shared equally across the country but the government's pledge to protect the north could see this region's cut soar to £80m, potentially threatening Cornwall's Wave Hub, the regeneration of Brixham harbour and the Project Taunton development.
The Western Morning News recently published a story that showed the South West is short-changed by billions of pounds every year, with the region receiving nine per cent less public funding per person than the national average.
The Westcountry receives a particularly poor settlement when it comes to funding for housing, transport, economic development and science and technology.
Analysis by regional economists placed the South West at the bottom of the league table for public spending – according to Treasury figures for 2008-09, total identifiable public expenditure in the region was just under £39 billion, eight per cent of the UK total.
Nigel Jump, chief economist of the South West Regional Development Agency, reported: "In terms of public spending in total or per head, in most categories, South West England receives a smaller part of the total than what might be expected in comparison with its contribution to UK output (7.8 per cent in 2008) or its share of the total UK population (nearly 8.5 per cent).
"The region tends to rank relatively lowly within the 12 regions and devolved administrations."
So it is difficult to comprehend Vince Cable's announcement that he will spare the North from the brunt of public spending cuts. And the reason is in the official statistics – just £7,485 was spent by the state for each person in the South West – nine per cent lower than the UK average of £8,206 and significantly less than that the £9,464 per person in London, £9,412 in Scotland and £10,127 in Northern Ireland.
On housing in particular the South West received 42 per cent less than the national average — just £142 per person compared to the UK-wide average of £243, London's £431 and Scotland's £346.
The coalition Government's catchphrase has been: "All for one" with the impression that the new Government would reverse Labour's previous policy of unfairly supporting its northern strongholds.
Vince Cable's first appearance at the dispatch box as a Minister fails to live up to this and is likely to be a major blow for the region.
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by SarahJ, Cornwall
Monday, June 07 2010, 1:34PM
“Hold on a minute who sold the homes in the first place
They were quick enough to cash in on the second home buyers and then want a cheap house and to keep the money.”
by youngcornwall, uk
Monday, June 07 2010, 12:45PM
“Why do you think your child will never be able to afford a house in teh country of his birth?!?!
OnanHag All, Kernow
Never is a long time, if individuals are being brainwashed into thinking ¿the country of his birth¿ instead of County of his birth, there is your answer.
Those without any get up and go cling to anything as an excuse.
At this moment in time Cornwall is a holiday resort, a place where people come to retire, nothing more and nothing less.”
by Sara, Bodmin
Monday, June 07 2010, 10:34AM
“Show us how to rise OnanHag All
Practice what you preach
What do you advocate violence, defacement, threats or an An gof style march up to London.
Let us do it and let us when and where”
by OnanHag All, Kernow
Monday, June 07 2010, 10:10AM
“Listen people of Kernow, you need to know that insurance companies take out £200 million of Cornwall¿s money every year and put nothing at all back by way of investment!
We are being scandalously ripped of our money. Teh banks and building societies take whatever is left of Cornwall¿s capital and AT MOST give 70p for ever £1 they take from us.
Kernow must rise up, we must help our fellow Cornishman see the lies of teh English Imperial State.
Why do you think your child will never be able to afford a house in teh country of his birth?!?!
Are you content to wait for crumbs from the London partys tables?”
by Gary, Saltash
Monday, June 07 2010, 9:18AM
“England takes £1.95 billion in taxes out of Cornwall's GDP of £3.6 billion! This money deprives Kernow of the resources it needs for independence! It is part of teh systematic attempt by the English Imperial state to commit cultural genbocide against teh Cornish in orrder for teh wealthy Londoners to have Kernow as a plaything for their second home use/.
Mark my words the day is coming when Kernow will rise up and throw off its chains.
Do not be an English Imperial state lackey in Kernow when that happens.
Onan Hag All, Kernow.
For a place that doesn¿t exists the separatists do seem to keep mentioning ENGLAND more than most and then we receive the usual threat, scary.
IT said Mark my words the day is coming when Kernow will rise up and throw off its chains.
The only chains we have are those the minority decided to wear, when asked by our elected leaders what they can do to help us the message sent from the base camp kernow was ask Tescos to sell less flags, yes stuff the wars around the world, poverty, poor housing. No work or industry all we want is less flags in Tescos”
by cheekyman, Redruth
Monday, June 07 2010, 9:00AM
“Well who would've thought that the south west would be getting stuffed by a Lib Dem? Only the blind would never have seen that coming...
And is Mike seriously telling me that Andrew George has been an MP for 13 years and still achieved less than Penzance Chamber of Commerce? Who in their right mind voted for that ineffectual fool? At least the Kerrier residents got rid of that money grabbing charlatan Goldsworthy...even if it means that we're Tory again, anythings better than her...
But back to the point...looks like we're getting screwed again...but on the bright side...my concience is clear.”
by Onan Hag All, Kernow.
Sunday, June 06 2010, 10:25PM
“England takes £1.95 billion in taxes out of Cornwall's GDP of £3.6 billion! This money deprives Kernow of the resources it needs for independence! It is part of teh systematic attempt by the English Imperial state to commit cultural genbocide against teh Cornish in orrder for teh wealthy Londoners to have Kernow as a plaything for their second home use/.
Mark my words the day is coming when Kernow will rise up and throw off its chains.
Do not be an English Imperial state lackey in Kernow when that happens.”
by Gary, Saltash
Sunday, June 06 2010, 5:30PM
“Given the majority of our taxes come from the public sector it is save to assume things are going to get worse no matter what Mr Jump states because the coalition will point out the figures he has were created under a different Scottish administration, best saving we could make would be to remove the SWRDA and other ineffective quangos, we are spoilt for choice which ones to axe, but axe we must”
by TeamCromwell, England
Sunday, June 06 2010, 3:40PM
“AnneGolf, Bra Sands
who do you think you are kidding nutty nats?
If you think old England's done?”
by Paddy Trembath, Praa Sands
Sunday, June 06 2010, 2:19PM
“human, Earth wrote:-
¿Trembath no offence but go away troll, try adult education. You are not funny in the true sense of the word¿..¿
.
I am so glad I am not around when you are intending to offend.
I do not know how I would stop myself from laughing.
human, Earth wrote:-
¿¿¿if anyone knows what a lambchop means keep it to yourself¿¿.¿
.
Oh, I am so sorry, before your time was it?
.
You have posted nothing here that contributes to the debate, just personal insult against those who you disagree with. Typical, unable to attack the argument, you attack those who make it. Just what you would expect from a Lambchop.”