Rishi Sunak has batted off criticism suggesting that a pledge to give £20 million each to 30 towns - including one in Powys - was being targeted mainly at Tory ­constituencies.

As part of the “levelling-up” scheme, the Conservatives pledged that local people, not those in Westminster, will decide how the money will be spent.

Newtown has been earmarked for the cash, along with towns such as Tamworth, Preston, Corby, Halifax, Bognor Regis, Flint, Perth and Newry.

More than half of the towns – 17 – standing to benefit were represented by Tory MPs in the last parliament.

READ MORE: Conservatives pledge £20m for Newtown

Asked about accusations that he is trying to buy votes there, Mr Sunak told broadcasters: “These 30 towns come on top of the 70 towns that have been announced – that’s 100 towns across our country that are going to receive £20 million each.”

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He said the methodology used to select the towns had been used “multiple times before” based on “an objective set of criteria”, including “levelling-up needs, looking at economic opportunities, skills, health and life expectancy”.

Mr Sunak also insisted he is “going right across the country” when asked about his campaign’s focus so far on seats that are being defended at the election by the Conservatives.

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Labour said when the funding was announced that the cash ring-fenced to pay for the investment is the same funding that is being used for its pensions announcement and National Service plan.

Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader and shadow levelling up secretary, responding to the plan said on Saturday: “Just days ago, Rishi Sunak raided levelling up cash to fund his teenage Dad’s Army.

“Today he’s back making yet another reckless unfunded spending commitment, sure to be broken as quickly as it was made."