LIBERAL Democrats of Carlisle have slammed the Government’s Levelling-Up agenda after a Freedom of Information Request has revealed just five per cent of civil servants in the Government department are from the North West.

Councillor Brian Wernham, who represents Stanwix Urban on the new Cumberland Council, submitted a Freedom of Information Request to find out the location of staff in the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities.

The response reveals that just five per cent of civil servants in the 2,890 strong workforce live in the North West.

Cllr Wernham said: “These figures, revealed today in a response to my Freedom of Information request, show that not only are the highest graded staff based in London, but most of the salaried staff are as well. All of them highly paid with London weighting allowances.”

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He said: “This over-centralisation of staffing and decision-making needs to stop” adding that the Lib Dems “would empower the regions of England” with a federal structure.

Cllr Wernham said this would involve regional assemblies for the North West and North East.

“In 2019 the Conservatives promised a levelling up agenda across all nations of the UK. But neither Wales nor Scotland have even 1% of DLUC staff working there.

“The Lib Dems believe the fact that we currently need a ‘Levelling-Up’ minister just shows how broken the system of funding and decision-making is.”

Conservative Member of Parliament for Carlisle John Stevenson said that the Lib Dems “need to get their house in order because we have the opportunity for a devolution settlement in Cumbria that they don’t appear to be supporting.”

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The leadership of the Lib Dem controlled Westmorland & Furness Council is yet to vocally support the idea of a Combined Authority with Cumberland Council.

Mr Stevenson said: “Rather than whinging about numbers, they should get behind the Conservatives in their support for a Devolution settlement for Cumbria.

“If they are serious about Levelling-Up, the Lib Dems and Labour have got to get behind a devolution settlement.”

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