MPs have hit out at a £1.6billion fund for deprived towns as a desperate bribe for Brexit votes (Image: GETTY)
The Prime Minister's political opponents claim the move is trying to influence Labour MPs in Leave-supporting areas to back her Withdrawal Agreement in crunch Commons votes. Mr McDonnell said: "This towns fund smacks of desperation from a Government reduced to bribing MPs to vote for their damaging flagship Brexit legislation. The reason our towns are struggling is because of a decade of cuts, including to council funding and a failure to invest in businesses and our communities.
"Labour pledged in 2017 that we will establish a network of regional development banks that will be dedicated to delivering the finance that our small businesses co-operatives and innovative projects need across the whole country.
"No Brexit bribery, stable investment where it's most needed."
Ms Soubry said: "Voters will not be fooled - especially those in areas which voted Leave and are now demanding a people's vote because they know, whichever way you do it, Brexit will harm their futures."
The Stronger Towns Fund, launched today, will be "targeted at places that have not shared in the proceeds of growth in the same way as more prosperous parts of the country", ministers said.
