Lib Dems Deliver £12bn to Fire Up Local Economies

Nick Clegg has announced £12 billion of Growth Deals to create jobs, build homes and boost local economies up to 2020.

This would not be happening without the Liberal Democrats in Government. Nick has led this initiative in Government, after promising in 2010 that by the end of this Parliament every part of the country would have more freedom and more power than at the beginning.

Growth Deals will mean every local area in England will have more power over the money they raise and spend and more control over their own economic destiny.

Across the country they are expected to lead to work on over 150 roads, 150 housing developments, 20 stations, as well as to provide small business support services in every part of England and significant investment in skills training, as well as work to improve educational attainment and to get more people from welfare to work.

They will also help to end our over reliance on the banks and the city of London in favour of boosting growth, jobs and ambition in our great towns and cities all across England.

Announcing the deals, Nick said: "We are ending a culture of Whitehall knows best. Decisions over spending on infrastructure, business support and housing are being made at a truly local level.

"Growth Deals will create thousands of jobs, provide incredible new training opportunities for young people, build thousands of new homes and improve transport links across the country for people and their families; building a stronger economy and a fairer society.

"We're placing the power and money in the hands of the people who know how to spend it best, making a real difference to local communities."