A clip has emerged of ex-Chancellor Rishi Sunak saying he diverted public money from “deprived urban areas”.
In a video leaked to the New Statesman, the Tory leadership candidate tells an audience in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, he wanted to ensure “areas like this” got the funding they deserved.
Sunak allies say he was referring to changing “outdated” rules to better reflect need in rural areas and towns.
Labour said the leadership race was revealing the Tories’ “true colours”.
The party’s shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy said: “It’s scandalous that Rishi Sunak is openly boasting that he fixed the rules to funnel taxpayers’ money to prosperous Tory shires.
“This is public money. It should be distributed fairly and spent where it’s most needed – not used as a bribe to Tory members.”
