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. Dramatic high-angle drone photograph of decommissioned oil platforms anchored in the Cromarty Firth, near Invergordon, Scotland, as the sun sets over a calm North Sea

    Allies for delivery: Rebuilding faith in Scottish politics via the North Sea

    Can Scottish politicians still build enough of a consensus to deliver meaningful change for disillusioned voters?
  2. A busy high street in Kingston-upon-Thames, London. Shoppers walking beneath multi-coloured bunting

    Bricks vs clicks: The case for an online sales tax

    It's time to rethink how we tax retail.
  3. A pound coin sits on top of a newspaper showing an image of a line graph

    Cost of living, economic growth and stability: How to make this autumn budget a success

    In the autumn budget the chancellor can take three steps towards improving people's living standards.