The levelling up white paper, published on 2 February, promises the “biggest shift of power from Whitehall to local leaders in modern times”.
It includes 12 “national missions” that will shift the government’s focus and resources to “Britain’s forgotten communities”. Each mission is scheduled to be achieved by 2030 and aims to improve the lives of those living and working outside of London and the South East.
The missions range from increasing pay, prosperity and employment, to improving public transport and ensuring access to 5G broadband. They were coupled with a commitment to greater devolution across England.
According to Mission 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.”
Levelling up secretary Michael Gove said that for decades “too many communities have been overlooked and undervalued”. The white paper would help to end this “historic injustice”, he suggested.
However, the white paper was criticised for a lack of funding to support its rhetoric. Shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy said: “Is this it? The government’s 12 missions for levelling up are nothing more than 12 admissions of failure.”
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