Levelling up

Levelling up was a key part of the Conservative Party's 2019 election manifesto, which some commentators credit with their success in the North during the elections.

In September 2021, as part of a Cabinet reshuffle, the government announced that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) would be renamed the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The role of 'Housing Secretary' was renamed 'Secretary of State for Levelling Up’.

The change came as former Bank of England Chief Economist Andy Haldane was appointed as the new Head of the Levelling Up Taskforce. The taskforce was established by the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove MP. These changes reflected the Government's mission to ‘level up’ every part of the UK.

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said: "This government is committed to uniting and levelling up every part of the UK and I am determined that as we build back better from the pandemic we are geared up with the teams and expertise to deliver on that promise."

On 2 February 2022 the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities published the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-unveils-levelling-up-plan-that-will-transform-uk

The government describes levelling up as: ‘…a moral, social and economic programme for the whole of government’. It suggests the Levelling Up White Paper is: ‘…a flagship document that sets out how we will spread opportunity more equally across the UK. It comprises a bold programme of systems change, including 12 UK-wide missions to anchor the agenda to 2030, alongside specific policy interventions that build on the 2021 Spending Review to deliver change now.

It states: ‘…not everyone shares equally in the UK’s success. While talent is spread equally across our country, opportunity is not. Levelling up is a mission to challenge, and change, that unfairness. Levelling up means giving everyone the opportunity to flourish. It means people everywhere living longer and more fulfilling lives, and benefitting from sustained rises in living standards and well-being. This requires us to end the geographical inequality which is such a striking feature of the UK. It needs to begin by improving economic dynamism and innovation to drive growth across the whole country, unleashing the power of the private sector to unlock jobs and opportunity for all.’

The 12 missions set out in the white paper are:

1. By 2030, pay, employment and productivity will have risen in every area of the UK, with each containing a globally competitive city, and the gap between the top performing and other areas closing.
2. By 2030, domestic public investment in R&D outside the Greater South East will increase by at least 40%, and over the Spending Review period by at least one third. This additional government funding will seek to leverage at least twice as much private sector investment over the long term to stimulate innovation and productivity growth.
3. By 2030, local public transport connectivity across the country will be significantly closer to the standards of London, with improved services, simpler fares and integrated ticketing.
4. By 2030, the UK will have nationwide gigabit-capable broadband and 4G coverage, with 5G coverage for the majority of the population.
5. By 2030, the number of primary school children achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths will have significantly increased. In England, this will mean 90% of children will achieve the expected standard, and the percentage of children meeting the expected standard in the worst performing areas will have increased by over a third.
6. By 2030, the number of people successfully completing high-quality skills training will have significantly increased in every area of the UK. In England, this will lead to 200,000 more people successfully completing high-quality skills training annually, driven by 80,000 more people completing courses in the lowest skilled areas.
7. By 2030, the gap in Healthy Life Expectancy (HLE) between local areas where it is highest and lowest will have narrowed, and by 2035 HLE will rise by five years.
8. Well-being By 2030, well-being will have improved in every area of the UK, with the gap between top performing and other areas closing.
9. By 2030, pride in place, such as people’s satisfaction with their town centre and engagement in local culture and community, will have risen in every area of the UK, with the gap between top performing and other areas closing.
10. By 2030, renters will have a secure path to ownership with the number of first-time buyers increasing in all areas; and the government’s ambition is for the number of non-decent rented homes to have fallen by 50%, with the biggest improvements in the lowest performing areas.
11. By 2030, homicide, serious violence and neighbourhood crime will have fallen, focused on the worst affected areas.
12. By 2030, every part of England that wants one will have a devolution deal with powers at or approaching the highest level of devolution and a simplified, long-term funding settlement.

There are plans to give these missions status in law in a Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

It is a programme of change that requires a fundamental shift in how central and local government, the private sector and civil society operate.

The Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act came into force on 27 October 2023. For more information see: Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act.

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