Centre for London statement ahead of Levelling Up White Paper

In advance of the government’s Levelling Up White Paper, Nick Bowes, Chief Executive at Centre for London said: 

“No one wants to see the country over-dependent on the capital’s economy.”

“The White Paper must reflect that levelling up is needed in all parts of the country, including London. The hundreds of thousands of Londoners living in poverty and struggling to get by on a daily basis are just as worthy and important of extra support as in any other area. But at the moment support seems to be going anywhere but London: the city received less money from the first phase of the levelling up fund than anywhere else in Britain. 

 “In addition, there needs to be a strong focus on meaningful devolution, giving local authorities and mayors across the country much more say over the way their places are run, allowing local solutions to the problems of levelling up. Creating more pots of money, with ministers and officials in Whitehall deciding on the criteria and who receives funding just won’t work. 

 “No one – in London or outside – wants to see the country over-dependent on the capital’s economy, the fact is that as things stand the city’s success is a major driver of the nation’s economic outlook: if London’s economy falters, tax take falls sharply. Especially as it recovers from covid, the city will still need strong investment in infrastructure, public services and skills if it is to continue competing on a global scale. And that means prioritising a long-term sustainable funding deal for TfL, without which the city’s economy will suffer.”