The Riveria International Centre, where the UKIP conference is currently being held, was partly funded by a European Grant of £3m.
The Riveria International Centre in Torquay, where the UKIP conference is currently being held, was partly funded by a European grant of £3 million.
Earlier today, Nigel Farage welcomed UKIP members to their spring conference, telling delegates that UKIP had claimed back the idea that it is not disreputable to talk about the EU.
However it has been revealed that the town in which the party’s conference is being held has benefited to the tune of £7.4 million from European Regional Development Funds (EDRF) since 2007.
The Riveria International Centre, where the UKIP leader took to the stage earlier today, was partly funded by a European Grant of £3m, and a £6.5 million investment to improve Torquay’s harbour front and connect the two sides of the harbour included £2.4 million from ERDF.
A further £1.7 million of ERDF money has been invested in a coastal zoo set on Torquay’s waterfront, which has created over 40 jobs, receives 130,000 visitors a year and injects over £3 million a year into the local economy. £3.4 million from ERDF has also co-funded infrastructure works to enable the development of employment land to create high quality business units. The development site is expected to create around 1,300 new jobs.
Commenting on the revelations, Lib Dem South West MEP Sir Graham Watson said UKIP had “managed to embarrass themselves again before anyone had even uttered a word”.
“UKIP can’t be trusted to organise their own conference, let alone run the country,” he said.
“Being in the EU has brought huge benefits to this town. Over £7.4mn of European funding has been invested in recent years to regenerate the Torquay harbour front, build a new coastal zoo and fund local businesses, helping to create over 1300 new jobs,” he added.
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27 Responses to “UKIP conference building received £3million European funding”
david17606
Is the left really this stupid?
Mark Thompson
Since we have to hand over billions of pounds to Brussels, it is our money anyway.
wj
Yes – I’m afraid they are.
£3m is a spit in the ocean when compared to the billions given for glass palaces and chauffeur driven cars in Brussels.
What incredible waterfronts we would have if we were allowed to keep that money!
ryeatley
“Lib Dem South West MEP Sir Graham Watson said UKIP had “managed to embarrass themselves again before anyone had even uttered a word”.”
What an utter idiot his words reveal him as.
We give far, far more to the repulsive “EU” than we ever get back. His words reveal a startling ignorance. He should not be an MEP if he does not know the basics. Hopefully he’ll be replaced by a UKIP representative during the next elections.
S.D.H.Gibson
You my friend, are a spoon. Britian is one of the poorer nations of the EU, that money would’ve been handed to the city of London if Westminster was in charge of it. Europe makes sure wealth is distributed fairly to help develop our continent.