Jenrick dismisses calls for Towns Fund probe

Robert Jenrick has rejected calls from the Labour Party for an investigation into how his Newark constituency was awarded £25m, as part of the government’s Towns Fund.

Appearing on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday yesterday (11 October), the housing secretary said the calls were just ‘a distraction tactic by the Labour Party’ and added ‘there really is nothing to see here’.

‘Ministers don’t make decisions about their own constituencies, that’s a long-standing position,’ added Mr Jenrick.

‘They’re done by other ministers in the departments.’

The government first announced the £3.6bn Towns Fund in July 2019 and in September last year, it published the list of 100 places that would be invited to develop proposals for the Fund.

However, the selection process for those 100 towns was questioned by opposition MPs and later examined by the National Audit Office (NAO), which published a report into the matter in July.

Last month, senior civil servants were grilled about the selection process by the public accounts select committee.

Mr Jenrick also faced questions on BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show about why Newark received £25m.

He told Mr Marr that the decision had been taken by another minister, Jake Berry.

The veteran presented then pointed out that Darwen in Mr Berry’s own constituency was another town selected to receive money.

Mr Jenrick replied the decision to select Darwen was taken by himself.

‘Ministers do not get involved in making decisions for their own constituencies, but neither should their constituencies be victims of the fact that they happen to be a minister,’ added Mr Jenrick.

‘This has been set out very clearly by the NAO.’

Labour’s shadow local government secretary, Steve Reed has called on Mr Jenrick to explain his conduct in parliament.

‘Robert Jenrick must answer serious allegations that he used the Towns Fund to channel public money to help Conservative Party candidates ahead of the General Election,’ said Mr Reed.

‘His admission that Jake Berry selected his constituency to receive funds, and that he in turn selected Jake Berry’s throws up further questions about what went on.

‘If Robert Jenrick has nothing to hide, he should submit himself to a full investigation to clear up this murky affair. People deserve to know that taxpayers’ cash isn’t being misused by the Conservatives for their own gain.’