Long lockdown could make ‘levelling up’ eight times harder

The government’s flagship ‘levelling up’ agenda could become eight times harder with a slow vaccine roll out and long lockdown, according to a new study.

The Centre for Cities’ annual study of the UK’s major urban areas – Cities Outlook 2021 – warns the economic damage being caused by the pandemic will make promise to level up the North and Midlands four times harder and risks levelling down prosperous places in southern England.

According to the ‘worst-case scenario’, 1.3m people now need a job to level up areas outside the Greater South East, and this figure will increase the longer restrictions continue.

Birmingham is the city facing the biggest levelling up challenge, followed by Hull and Blackpool, the report states.

Since last March, the report adds there has been an unprecedented rise in people claiming unemployment-related benefits in the Greater South East of England compared to the rest of the country.

Almost half (43%) of all claimants since then live in the Greater South East, despite it accounting for just 37% of the UK’s population. Last March only 31% of unemployment claimants lived in the Greater South East.

London’s, Crawley’s and Slough’s futures are among the prosperous places of concern named in the report, due Covid-19’s potential long-term impact.

‘Covid-19 will leave a lasting legacy,’ said Centre for Cities chief executive, Andrew Carter.

‘While the economic damage could be felt in many cities and towns for decades, it will be worse in places that the prime minister has promised to level up.

‘The pledge to level up the North and Midlands was made on the assumption that places in the South would remain prosperous. Covid-19 has shaken this assumption, with cities ranging from London to Crawley now struggling,’ added Mr Carter.

‘Levelling up the North and Midlands and stopping the South’s levelling down will not be cheap and will require more than short-term handouts,’ said Mr Carter.

‘Government support and investment for new businesses in emerging industries will be essential, as will spending on further education to train people to do the good-quality jobs created.’

Photo Credit – Klaus Hausmann (Pixabay)