Tory National Service plan would see cuts to vital services in Oadby and Wigston after scrapping of £1.3 million local fund

The Liberal Democrats have warned that Conservative plans to spend £2.5 billion on National Service would lead to cuts to vital services in Oadby and Wigston.

The Conservatives say they would pay for National Service by slashing funding for local areas through the Shared Prosperity Fund from 2028-29, which funds projects that boost jobs and living standards, improve public services and build pride in local communities.

This fund has provided £1.3 million for Oadby and Wigston from 2022 to 2025. The money is ring-fenced for local projects such as improvements to shop fronts, grants to community organisations and events to promote our town centres.

The Conservatives have the wrong priorities. They should reverse their plans to slash troop numbers by 10,000 instead.

The Conservative Party’s chaotic attempts to run the country have already done so much damage to people’s living standards and public services in Oadby and Wigston.

Their plans for a National Service are nothing but a desperate distraction from the government’s record of failure on the NHS and economy.