‘Slap in the face’: Tory seats gain more from £4bn levelling up fund, finds analysis

Exclusive: council leaders accuse Rishi Sunak of offering ‘pre-election bribes’ as many deprived areas miss out

Tory seats have been awarded significantly more money per person from the government’s £4bn levelling up fund than areas with similar levels of deprivation, a Guardian analysis has found.

The disclosure is bound to provoke further fury from some regional leaders, who on Thursday accused Rishi Sunak of offering “pre election bribes”. Councils discovered that wealthy areas, including the prime minister’s Richmond constituency, will benefit from the new £2.1bn pot of funding while many deprived areas will miss out.