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Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour party, has criticized Rishi Sunak’s handling of flooding and promised that his party would take proactive measures earlier in the year to prevent such issues.
Critics have alleged that the Conservative party has been negligent in addressing the issue of floods, as a significant number of homes in the southern and central regions of England have been affected, totaling over 1,800.
Sir Keir stated that the response was not prompt enough. He believes that the government’s attempt to show empathy after the event is not sufficient.
During a trip to the flood-affected regions of the East Midlands, the leader of the Labour party expressed the importance of taking proactive measures, stating, “We need to form a task force and stay ahead of this situation.”
He stated, “To clarify, during the autumn season, a taskforce will be formed to include local authorities, emergency response teams, and community members, in order to ensure that preventative measures are taken.”
When questioned about additional funding for flood prevention, Sir Keir responded by acknowledging the need for financial resources but also highlighting that the task force’s efforts go beyond just money.
The focus is on completing the fundamental tasks. This includes clearing any clogged drains, bringing the local authorities together, and creating a plan.
Keir Starmer meets with Ian Clement, whose residence in Loughborough, East Midlands was affected by flooding.
On Sunday, Mr. Sunak spoke with Oxford residents at their doorsteps and defended the government’s efforts in preventing floods.
The Prime Minister announced that the Conservative government had allocated £5.2 billion towards flood prevention measures, resulting in 49,000 homes being protected.
During a visit to the Environment Agency (EA) depot on Osney Island, the Tory leader reassured workers by stating that they appeared to have overcome the worst of the situation.
Mr Sunak said: “Of course it’s going to be devastating for those who are impacted [this winter], which is why there’s financial support in place, but overall investment that’s going into flood defences is at a very, very high level.”
The Liberal Democrats accused the government of drastically reducing funding for flood prevention projects.
In a previous season, the National Audit Office (NAO) stated that the government was not sufficiently equipped for extreme weather events caused by climate change.
The report from NAO revealed that the amount of residences scheduled to receive assistance for flood protection by 2027 has decreased by 40% and approximately 500 flood defence projects have been discontinued.
Baroness Brown, chair of the adaptation at the Climate Change Committee, said: “Recent events demonstrate why it is vital that the government urgently prioritises and commits to a robust long-term vision for climate-change adaptation.”
Rishi Sunak visited Osney, Oxford and spoke with members of the Environment Agency while inspecting flood defences.
Sir Keir has promised to ensure that flood protection measures are adequate, stating on social media that individuals should not have their lives disrupted by heavy rainfall.
The Environment Agency reported that over 1,800 properties have experienced flooding as a result of saturated soil. They also stated that the consequences of the increased water levels are expected to persist for the next five days, with numerous rivers remaining at higher levels.
The government led by Sunak is now offering flooded families the opportunity to apply for a maximum of £500 to assist with repair expenses.
The government has made available Flood Recovery Framework grants through the Department for Environmental and Rural Affairs (Defra) for communities impacted by Storm Henk, which began on January 2nd.
Families and companies that have been greatly affected may be eligible to have their council tax and business rates waived completely for a minimum of three months.
Eligible small and medium-sized businesses may receive grants of up to £2,500. Property owners who make improvements to their buildings to increase resilience against future floods may be eligible for a grant of £5,000. Farmers who have experienced uninsurable damage to their land can apply for a grant of £25,000.
Over 150 food advisories are currently active, primarily in southern and central regions of England. Additionally, there is a warning in effect near the River Ritec at Tenby in Wales.
Source: independent.co.uk
