Government releases ‘levelling up’ plans – what it means for West Yorkshire

The government has announced that it will release its full ‘levelling up’ white paper today, setting out how it plans to deliver on its 2019 election promise to improve the lives of those living in the UK’s poorest communities.

Aiming to “close the gap” between the richer and poorer parts of the country, the long-awaited strategy is being unveiled today following an announcement by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove this morning.

A large part of the white paper focuses on a shift in power, with intentions to devolve decision making to local mayors. Regions, such as West Yorkshire, will be given a greater say in decisions made in their local area – but will still have to apply to central government for funding for projects.

Some, however, have criticised the fact that local authorities will not be in control of their own budgets as “beauty contests” that are the “opposite of devolution”.

What does the levelling up white paper mean for West Yorkshire?

The new white paper contains details on a new Mayoral Combined Authority deal for York and North Yorkshire.

At the heart of the Conservative’s devolution strategy is a plan to create more regional mayors, leading to the election of West Yorkshire’s first-ever mayor Tracy Brabin last year.

Other plans include the better alignment of public transport, creating better connectivity within the region intended to be on scale more akin to that in London and promising simpler fares, integrated ticketing and better transport overall.

The paper also includes blue prints to install 5G technology across the country to improve internet connectivity and bring “gigabit-capable broadband and 4G coverage” to the whole of Yorkshire.

Another large part of the strategy focuses on eduction, with plans to create new specialist sixth form free schools and tempt teachers in underperforming regions to stay with new incentives.

Further policies look at tackling skills shortages, bringing new life to town centres and and improve health and life expectancy in left behind areas.

What is the intention behind the white paper?

Officials say the report will set out a blueprint to bring prosperity “to all parts” of the UK.

In the Conservatives’ 2019 general election-winning manifesto, the party said its focus would be “levelling up every part of the UK”, and the term has since become a key slogan for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government.

Plans would bring all existing initiatives together into 12 “national missions” and set up a system for measuring progress.

Among the 12 missions are promises to refocus education spending on disadvantaged parts of the country and eliminate illiteracy and innumeracy, bring the rest of the country’s public transport up to London standards, and provide access to 5G broadband for the “large majority” of households.

Other missions identified include significantly increasing the number of people successfully completing high-quality skills training in every area of the UK, and renters having a secure path to property ownership, with the number of first-time buyers increasing in all areas.

Derelict urban sites in 20 towns and cities will be targeted for redevelopment, with Sheffield and Wolverhampton the first places selected for this.

Speaking ahead of the publishing of the white paper, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said: “Not everyone shares equally in the UK’s success [and] for decades, too many communities have been overlooked and undervalued.

“As some areas have flourished, others have been left in a cycle of decline.”

“Levelling Up and this White Paper is about ending this historic injustice and calling time on the postcode lottery,” he continued.

“This will not be an easy task, and it won’t happen overnight, but our 12 new national levelling up missions will drive real change in towns and cities across the UK, so that where you live will no longer determine how far you can go.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson assured that levelling up is the “defining mission of this government”, adding that this “comprehensive and ambitious” is a “vision for the future”.

You can read the ‘Levelling Up’ strategy in full on the gov.uk website.

Featured Image – Flickr