State of the North 2021/22: Powering northern excellence

Article

Two years on from the UK government’s promise to level up, the rhetoric has reached fever pitch, but its definition and the policies to deliver it remain elusive.

This year’s State of the North report highlights the gap between promises and reality on levelling up. We need to further empower those across the North who are already levelling up for themselves, and make sure no place or community is left behind.

To underpin this objective we provide three missions for a prosperous North that offer a clear roadmap for central government, mayors, combined authorities, local government and communities to ensure levelling up succeeds, and the North can thrive:

  • building a new economy that promotes widespread prosperity
  • making the North the engine of the net zero transition
  • providing everyone with access to high-quality, life-long education.

Related items

  1. Women in Scotland: the gendered impact of care on financial stability and well-being

    Women in Scotland are far likelier than men to take on childcare and other caring responsibilities, which puts them at an economic disadvantage. 
  2. One person handing a blue UK passport to another

    Citizenship: A race to the bottom?

    The ability to move from temporary immigration status to settlement, and ultimately to citizenship, is the cornerstone of a fair and functional immigration system.

  3. Reflections on International Women's Day 2025

    In a world that currently seems increasingly dominated by ‘strong man’ politics and macho posturing, this International Women’s Day it seems more important than ever to take stock of where we are on the representation of women in politics.