Is this*levelling up* ? A view from the South

If only we had a government which was committed to devolution, to allowing spending decisions to local people, who do know what is needed in their local area,

What we have had since the Tories took over is a top-down strategy - taking money from local authorities to allow Westminster to make decisions which would be better made by locally elected Councillors.

And what a ,mess they have made!

Andy Burnham on Andrew Neil's show. He talks so much sense. You can't level up with a government that keeps chopping and changing.

The Tories are simply leaving loads of sh*t for Labour to clear up.

sorry to go off thread but surely this levelling up money could be spent on something more worthwhile than shopping centres
asit is apparently in Kent

Whitewavemark2

Well, the Tories are definitely not intending to level up the quality of our rivers.

They voted to allow the continuance of sewerage dumping for the next 15 YEARS!!

Apparently, according to news today, the River Wye is almost dead because of pollutants from farmers.. when will the government value our precious countryside.. as someone who used to live in Herefordshire this makes me very sad and angry

nanna8

Litter free? Not when I lived there in the 1950s and 60s and early 70s. It was disgusting and very noticeable. When we left we noticed a huge difference where we had moved to. Breath of fresh air. No stinky trains, either.

I was on a train pre Covid (2018) going from Grantham to
Skegness, it was so old and slow I expected to wave to the
Railway Children if they were about. (and dirty and smelly)

Well, the Tories are definitely not intending to level up the quality of our rivers.

They voted to allow the continuance of sewerage dumping for the next 15 YEARS!!

What Whitewavemark2 says. It's the Tories trying to hang onto key seats in the South.

Callistemon21

MaizieD

Of course, in the old days areas of high deprivation had access to EU funds ...

As the UK was a net contributor to the EU, where has all this promised money gone to now?

Into a black hole?
We should be awash with funds.

Well, it's because the national economy doesn't actually work that way

I think I read somewhere around the time of the referendum that every pound invested in the EU via our contribution brought £19 back into the UK economy (trade and the multiplier effect). If we look at it simplistically, whatever we have 'saved' by leaving the EU has been eroded by the drop in trade and growth caused by Brexit.

We are bothered, but the right wing press continues with the lies and the unthinking swallow it.

why is no one bothered that the campaign was full of lies, like the money that would go to the NHS?

Let's not forget that "levelling up" was also meant to keep the red wall Tory by giving money to the areas that had elected a Tory MP. There is evidence that those areas are turning back to red redfieldandwiltonstrategies.com/latest-red-wall-voting-intention-3-4-october-2022/
And those MPs are defecting
labourlist.org/2022/01/red-wall-conservative-mp-christian-wakeford-defects-to-the-labour-party/

MaizieD

Of course, in the old days areas of high deprivation had access to EU funds ...

As the UK was a net contributor to the EU, where has all this promised money gone to now?

Into a black hole?
We should be awash with funds.

Yes and they benefited enormously. All stopped.

Of course, in the old days areas of high deprivation had access to EU funds ...

I agree Callistemin21. All that levelling up means is local authorities competing for a small proportion of the grant aid removed by the Tories (and Lib Dems in coalition) over 13 years. It's exactly the same as City Challenge invented by the Tories in the 1980s. It diverts local authority resources into competing with other councils and most are losers at the end of the day.

nanna8

Litter free? Not when I lived there in the 1950s and 60s and early 70s. It was disgusting and very noticeable. When we left we noticed a huge difference where we had moved to. Breath of fresh air. No stinky trains, either.

No stinky trains, that’s a laugh, when I was in Melbourne in the 1970s the red rattlers in Melbourne had carpets of cigarette ends on the carriage floors, they smelt awful, you need to take your rose coloured glasses off 😀

varian

"levelling up" is a meaningless election slogan.

Local areas should not have to compete for funding.The government does not know best.

A decent government would restore the funding of Local Authorities which has been decimated by the Tories and let locally elected Councillors decide how best to spend the money in their own areas.

I agree.

Even seemingly prosperous places have their areas of deprivation.

I wasn't aware that Bournemouth was poor, in fact, thought Christchurch one of the richest places in the country. Despite this, there are areas of the south that are very deprived, including parts of Tower Hamlets in London, Jaywick in Essex and Margate in Kent.
Levelling up money should go to the most deprived areas, regardless of whether they are north or south.

"levelling up" is a meaningless election slogan.

Local areas should not have to compete for funding.The government does not know best.

A decent government would restore the funding of Local Authorities which has been decimated by the Tories and let locally elected Councillors decide how best to spend the money in their own areas.

The Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch (BCP) area is not as rosy an area as people seem to think. A misconception I think from bygone times.

No. Put very simply, seaside towns are quite deprived; the property is generally expensive but the income is mainly from pensions, many retired, therefore not so much tax. Few industries available, not so many work opportunities. Plus the older generation needing more health care and a high number of itinerants in hotels out of season.

Whitewavemark2

I see Cruella has rowed back on the crucial Windrush reforms.

The epitome of evil that one.

I agree, that is truly appalling. She has absolutely no conscience .

I see Cruella has rowed back on the crucial Windrush reforms.

The epitome of evil that one.

gangy5 another lifelong Conservative here, for the first time in my life I think I will spoil my ballot paper.

Although we are hoping for our rather good independent councillor might stand, which case they get my X