After ‘levelling up’: what can the next government do to revitalise towns and communities?
‘Levelling up’ has been a core part of the political lexicon ever since Boris Johnson’s 2019 election victory, in part thanks to the Conservatives’ electoral success in so many of the so-called ‘Red Wall’ constituencies.
Boris Johnson, renaming and reframing the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine narratives promoted by his predecessor David Cameron alongside George Osborne, was a firm champion of levelling up – which officially remains a flagship Conservative policy.
With a UK general election taking place on 04 July, and the Conservatives trailing in the polls – even, according to one, behind the Reform party, which draws much of its support from more deprived constituencies in the north and south of England – it seems that levelling up’s days may be numbered. Or, more likely, numbered as a political slogan.
But the issues that the levelling up agenda sought to tackle will remain – so, whoever collects the keys to Number 10 Downing Street on 05 July, what happens next?
In the next episode of On Another Level, The Clarendon Works’ podcast looking at the future of the built environment, we ask exactly that. We take a look at what’s being done to drive investment across the country, including through UKREiiF, while also looking at what the next government needs to do to revive communities that have been left behind, rebalance the economy and – vitally – work with the private sector.
Our host, former Bloomberg journalist Naomi Kerbel speaks to two esteemed industry figures to identify some of what the next government could – and should – be doing to achieve those goals. Naomi talks to:
> Matt Christie, External Relations and Content Director, UKREiiF
> Angeliki Stogia, Associate Partner, Arup
Future episodes of On Another Level will explore, following the UK general election, what the results really mean for the built environment. We’ll also be looking at one of the most important emerging trends in the industry, social value, and how to embrace best practice in its delivery and measurement.
You can find the podcast on Apple and Spotify.
