Rt Hon David Blunkett, MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, has reacted with dismay to further announcements of cuts wreaked by the coalition Government on Sheffield, with the city already reeling from the decision to cancel the £80 million loan to Forgemasters – and called on fellow Sheffield MP Nick Clegg to account for his actions.
In addition to the Forgemasters cancellation, the Treasury today announced the scrapping of £12 million intended to regenerate Sheffield’s Retail Quarter, as well as £13 million to be issued through the Regional Development Agency to steel company Outokumpu.
Mr Blunkett said: “This is the second body blow in a day for Sheffield.
“The cuts which the Lib Dems and Tories are directing at the city border on the obsessive and the vindictive. We are talking about £105 million being cut from Sheffield in a single day.
“He may be able to explain one body blow away, but Nick Clegg now has to ask himself what on Earth he is doing in this coalition – and what continuing worth he has as a Member of Parliament supposedly representing the city.
“A member of the Cabinet and Deputy Prime Minister that can see what is happening to the area that he has represented since first coming to the city in 2005 has to answer the simple question: ‘What are you there for?’ ”
ENDS
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