Labour is set to pour hundreds of millions into Britain's least "cohesive" areas, in a move critics say is designed to boost its chances in May’s local elections.
Over the next decade, 40 additional neighbourhoods will receive £20million each, on top of 146 areas already selected under the Pride in Place programme.
The scheme was originally based on deprivation levels to target the most disadvantaged communities.
But the latest round introduced a new metric based on perceptions of community spirit.
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Residents were asked whether people in their area work together to improve their neighbourhood, with only those in the bottom fifth qualifying for funding.
The shift has significantly favoured London, with ten areas in the capital now included - compared to none under the previous criteria.
Analysis shows 34 of the 40 areas that would have qualified under the original model have now been excluded.
Many of those missing out are in northern England and the Midlands, including parts of Bolton, Redcar and Bradford.
The scheme was originally based on deprivation levels to target the most disadvantaged communities
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Jonathan Hinder, Labour MP for Pendle & Clitheroe, warned the approach was "going to make people question this government's commitment" to tackling deprivation.
"Labour was elected to overturn decades of neglect by previous governments, especially for the north and constituencies like mine," he said.
"Up till now, Pride in Place has been a way of making good on that promise."
He added: "We need to allocate funding on the basis of real need, not the latest fads within Whitehall.
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The local elections are seen as a key test of Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership
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"We cannot afford to allow Pride in Place to become just another programme designed by technocrats who have no knowledge of real challenges facing the country."
Fellow Labour backbenchers have accused ministers of reshaping the criteria to shore up vulnerable seats ahead of May’s polls.
The local elections are seen as a key test of Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.
Areas benefiting from the revised criteria are disproportionately safe Labour seats, according to YouGov polling from September.
The Prime Minister is understood to view the scheme as a key part of his legacy
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One MP told The Times: "Clearly they have the local [elections] in mind, and now they have gone on the defensive."
Another added: "If we really want to tackle deprivation, we have to focus it on need. You have to look at substantial systemic poverty in the coastal communities that have been left behind time after time. Resorting to short-term politics is not the way."
A Labour source told the newspaper that Pride in Place would be "central to the local elections campaign" and said "amid a sea of divisive politics we think it will bring communities back together".
The Prime Minister is understood to view the scheme as a key part of his legacy.
A spokesman for the Government said: "We remain absolutely committed to tackling deprivation, which is why we've invested up to £5.8billion through Pride in Place to tackle this issue.
“The new funding for 40 areas will continue to fix this while also addressing social cohesion, so we can back local people to build stronger communities.”
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