THE Government has been criticised for ignoring West Somerset and most of the rest of the Westcountry with its version of Levelling Up.

Labour inherited a Conservative policy on Levelling Up and quickly suspended grants as it conducted a spending review.

Now, it has announced a £1.5 billion fund to help struggling communities, but included only Torquay from the Westcountry when giving money to regenerate high streets, improve public spaces, and fund local services.

Exmoor farmer and Conservative campaigner James Wright said it was ‘yet another example’ of the Westcountry being forgotten.

Mr Wright said: “A town like Minehead might not look rundown like an ex-industrial area, but local people are struggling just as much, often more, because wages are lower and housing is unaffordable.”