IPPR North responds to the Queen’s Speech

Zoë Billingham, director of IPPR North said:

“This Parliament must prioritise turning the levelling up rhetoric into reality. The agenda has stalled because of government’s inaction and is now under pressure from the soaring cost of living. We are already almost three years on from the 2019 Queen’s Speech which set out early promises. People need to feel the benefit of ambitious action with full accountability on this critical agenda.

“The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill announced today included some welcome proposals including plans to help struggling high streets and better empower local people in planning decisions – but the government will need to be far bolder if it is to rewire power in England and narrow regional divides.

“We need an ambitious transfer of power from Whitehall to Town Halls through a fair, long-term devolution framework coupled with strong resourcing and accountability. Crucially, it isn’t enough for government to self-report on their own levelling up missions. So this Bill should establish, in statute, a new independent body outside of London to hold the whole of government to account against legally binding levelling up missions."

ENDS