Nick Brown needs to explain himself over Byker bid failure

5.45.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 14th Jun 2009

Responding to Labour MP Nick Brown's angry outburst over the failure of the Government to fund a PFI bid to refurbish the Grade 2 listed Byker Estate, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman for Newcastle East Greg Stone has expressed disappointment over the Labour party's decision to play politics on this important matter.

He said "Nick Brown should be explaining to his constituents why his Government has failed to back the well-presented and coherent regeneration case put forward by Newcastle City Council and Your Homes Newcastle for Government-backed PFI funding."

"It has always been the case that the Byker Estate has needed significant new investment to maintain and refurbish in line with the original Erskine masterplan, and the Lib Dem led council has shown ambition and determination to secure external funding to deliver this aspiration. Unfortunately, the Labour government has quite simply run out of cash and appears to be unable to financially support this scheme."

"Rather than trying to pass the buck, Nick Brown needs to explain why he has been unable to use his undoubted influence as Minister for the North East and one of Gordon Brown's closest allies to deliver much needed investment for Newcastle East residents

"In the circumstances it is difficult to disagree with the recent verdict of the Guardian newspaper that "Nick Brown talks a big game but is struggling to deliver where it counts"