Levelling Up the United Kingdom

Today, 2 February 2022, the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove unveiled the government’s flagship Levelling Up White Paper. This document sets out a plan to transform the UK by spreading opportunity and prosperity to all parts of it.

Twelve bold national levelling up missions, given status in law, will shift government focus and resources to Britain’s forgotten communities throughout 2020s

• Biggest shift of power from Whitehall to local leaders in modern times announced - every part of England to get ‘London style’ powers and mayor if they wish to

• Starting gun fired on decade-long project to level up Britain, with radical new policies announced across the board

• Domestic public investment in Research & Development to increase by at least 40% across the North, Midlands, South West, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

This paper sets out the next stages in this programme to level up the UK.
This programme has to be broad, deep and long-term. It has to be rooted in evidence demonstrating that a mix of factors is needed to transform places and boost local growth: strong innovation and a climate conducive to private sector investment, better skills, improved transport systems, greater access to culture, stronger pride in place, deeper trust, greater safety and more resilient institutions.