Councillors accused of playing Robin Hood in reverse.Council chiefs were dubbed "Robin Hoods in reverse" yesterday for sticking to plans to divert funds from deprived wards to affluent suburbs. Newcastle's Liberal Democrat Liberal Democrat Noun a member or supporter of the Liberal Democrats, a British centrist political party that advocates proportional representation Liberal Democrat n (BRIT) → ruling group has moved to make the allocation of money for community projects more even between wards. But Labour have produced figures to show that means Benwell and Scotswood Benwell and Scotswood is an electoral ward of Newcastle upon Tyne in North East England. The ward encompasses the Benwell and Scotswood housing areas, as well as the Newcastle Business Park, which is located on the banks of the River Tyne and houses the offices of companies such as would lose pounds 23,139 in a year, whereas prosperous North Jesmond would gain pounds 6,673. Labour deputy leader Nick Forbes claimed: "It's clear distribution from the poor to the rich, like Robin Hood Robin Hood, legendary hero of 12th-century England who robbed the rich to help the poor. Chivalrous, manly, fair, and always ready for a joke, Robin Hood reflected many of the ideals of the English yeoman. in reverse." Labour members boycotted yesterday's meeting of the council's constitutional committee in protest. Council leader Peter Arnold said: "We wanted them to explain why they have been denying fair levels of resources by directing most of their cash to their own inner city pocket boroughs. "They stayed away because they can't explain it. Since riverside wards have access to many additional and substantial funds, Labour councillors are crying wolf." |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion