Levelling Up the United Kingdom
Levelling up is a moral, social and economic programme for the whole of government. The Levelling Up White Paper sets out how we will spread opportunity more equally across the UK.
The United Kingdom is an unparalleled success story – a multi-cultural, multi-national, multi-ethnic state with the world’s best broadcaster; a vibrantly creative arts sector; a National Health Service which guarantees care for every citizen; charities and voluntary groups which perform a million acts of kindness daily; globally renowned scientists extending the boundaries of knowledge every year; entrepreneurs developing the products and services which bring joy and jobs to so many; and millions of citizens whose kindness and compassion has been so powerfully displayed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UK government has made progress towards spreading opportunity around the country since 2019, alongside mitigating the worst effects of the pandemic, with:
- £5 billion for Project Gigabit to bring gigabit-capable broadband to 85% of the UK by 2025, and the £1 billion Shared Rural Network deal with mobile operators delivering 4G coverage to 95% of the UK by the end of 2025;
- five-year consolidated transport settlements amounting to £5.7 billion in eight city regions outside London, £5 billion of funding for buses and active travel over this Parliament; and £96 billion for the Integrated Rail Plan delivering faster, more frequent and more reliable journeys across the north of England and the Midlands;
- a new schools funding formula in England ending the previous postcode lottery, and an extra £4 billion for schools in England next year, rising to £4.7 billion in 2024 to 2025
- investment of £3.8 billion in skills planned by 2024 to 2025 and a Lifetime Skills Guarantee in England, enabling 11 million adults to gain an A Level or equivalent qualification for free, as well as a new UK-wide adult numeracy programme and skills bootcamps;
- a new schools funding formula in England ending the previous postcode lottery, and an extra £4 billion for schools in England next year, rising to £4.7 billion in 2024-25
- £23.3 billion extra for the NHS in England over the 2021 Spending Review (SR21) period, a commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 and an ambition to deliver 50,000 more nurses
- a lower Universal Credit taper rate – down from 63% to 55% – and a higher National Living Wage, making work pay
- 20,000 more police officers on our streets by 2023 and a £70 million Safer Streets Fund to improve the environment and cut offending in high-crime areas
- control of our immigration system by ending free movement and introducing a new points-based immigration system, giving the UK the freedom to decide who comes to our country based on the skills people have to offer
- £1.49 billion in City and Growth Deals in every part of Scotland, £791 million across Wales and £617 million for deals covering the whole of Northern Ireland
- eight innovative Freeports bringing jobs, investment and prosperity across England with a commitment to deliver more Freeports in each of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- 101 towns across England receiving £2.4 billion from the Towns Fund to unleash their economic potential, and the £830 million Future High Streets Fund regenerating 72 towns and high streets and helping them recover from the pandemic
- a £2 billion Culture Recovery Fund helping museums, theatres, cinemas and heritage organisations survive the pandemic
£4.8 billion infrastructure investment in towns across the UK via the Levelling Up Fund - a £150 million Community Ownership Fund, giving people across the UK the chance to become owners of their local pubs or football grounds
- £26 billion of public capital investment for the green industrial revolution and transition to Net Zero; and
- the movement of UK government functions and civil servants out of Whitehall, ensuring levelling up is not directed from London, creating local jobs and taking decision-making closer to the communities the government serves, including HM Treasury to Darlington, the Cabinet Office to Glasgow, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to East Kilbride and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to Wolverhampton
- Boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards by growing the private sector, especially in those places where they are lagging
- Spread opportunities and improve public services, especially in those places where they are weakest
- Restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging, especially in those places where they have been lost
- Empower local leaders and communities, especially in those places lacking local agency.