Theresa May’s bung shows she still doesn’t understand Brexit

When will politicians learn they can’t just buy off voters? You think they would have twigged this during the EU referendum campaign when the Remain camp’s Project Fear utterly failed to sway the electorate’s feelings about the EU. Every household will be £4,300 worse off, the Treasury claimed, which a) wasn’t true and b) looked to many voters like a cynical bung designed to wean them off their Euroscepticism. Such chattering-class cluelessness was on full display in the aftermath of the referendum too. How could people in regions that have received oodles of EU cash — parts of Wales, the old industrial north of England — turn against the EU, Remainers in London wondered? 

And now here comes Theresa May with what looks like another bung. A billion-pound bung this time. The Government has launched a Stronger Towns Fund through which £1.6bn will be distributed to less well-off towns in England after Brexit.