Lanarkshire has been "short-changed" by millions of pounds through a new funding initiative, according to a local MSP.
The Conservative Government at Westminster has unveiled the Shared Prosperity fund, which they say will replace funding streams previously provided through the European Union.
However critics claim the programme, which will see £2.6bn spent nationally across the UK between now and 2025, will leave Scotland more than £150m down on what it would have received had the UK not left the European Union in the first year alone.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund has been established to replace EU structural funds, such as the European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund.
Scotland will receive £32m this year from the funding this year – £151m less than the expected £183m from EU structural funding.
For South Lanarkshire, that is an estimated loss of nearly £8.9m, while for neighbouring North Lanarkshire the figure is just over £9.4m.
Over the years, EU grants helped fund language training at Calderwood Primary, St Charles’ in Newton Farm, and Trinity High as well as fund towards the construction of Shawfield’s Smart Bridge.
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey says the local region is now being let down.
She told Lanarkshire Live : "The people of Cambuslang and Rutherglen did not vote for Brexit, yet we are paying a very high price for the Tories’ reckless obsession to leave the EU.
"EU funding has supported infrastructure projects and community initiatives across the country since the 1970s, with Scotland receiving more than £6bn of EU Structural Funds.
"This includes, but is certainly not limited to, funding for language training in local schools and towards the construction of the new Smart Bridge at Shawfield.
"Whether it’s from the damaging impact to local businesses from not being in the EU’s single market, denying people the opportunity to live, study and work freely in Europe, or failing to properly match EU investment, the Tories are continually short-changing South Lanarkshire."
However, Graham Simpson - the Tory list MSP for Central Scotland - claimed that the funding would provide a welcome boost throughout the region.
He told us : "While the SNP have taken power away from local authorities during their 14 years in office, the UK Government is empowering communities by investing directly in innovative projects.
"Groups and residents in Lanarkshire are already feeling the benefits of this and the UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund which awarded more than £3m to organisations in the region.
"The SNP should be praising the UK Government’s investment instead of picking faults."
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