The End of Levelling up?

During the Johnson administration, the government focussed heavily on the so-called ‘levelling up’ agenda, but the new government has seemingly let levelling up draw to a close.

Where did levelling up come from?

Levelling up came about in 2019 and became a principle part of Boris Johnson’s 2019 general election manifesto. It was part of the wider strategy to help the Conservatives perform well in the ‘red wall’ – an area which was integral to Johnson’s landslide victory.

The 2022 Levelling Up whitepaper outlined exactly what Johnson meant by the term and set out ambitious missions to deliver on transport, health, education, skills and productivity. The rollout of the agenda was initially very successful, with levelling up delivering for local towns and offering new opportunities outside of London.

Levelling up controversies and decline

Fragmented funding systems and competitive bidding between councils brought the levelling up agenda into controversy whilst a lack of long term plans for the agenda led to a loss of support and increased criticism. 

As accusations of favouritism for certain constituencies began to swirl and the economic pressures of covid and the war in Ukraine became a central issue for the government, levelling up was put onto the back burner.

Levelling up came to symbolise the waning authority of the Johnson administration, as delivery failed to match its early ambition. Something once championed by supporters of the government became something hard to defend.

New government and levelling up

Labour’s regional policy agenda, which focuses on growth, fairness and partnership echoes similar rhetoric to the old agenda, but refuses to use the branding of ‘levelling up’. The shift has focused from centralised financial commitments to an expansion of devolution, with more mayors and crucial changes to council structures.

Though the government commits to its ‘plan for change’ – on the whole, it has moved away from these slogans and focussed itself on structural reform, seeking to change the way politics works as opposed to how discourse surrounding politics works.

What the changes mean for communities and businesses

With levelling up effectively shelved and a change in government direction, there are significant considerations that local communities and businesses need to keep in mind in order to stay ahead of the curve and make the most of the government setup. Key stakeholders have changed and moved. Those with the interest and influence has changed drastically.

Those previously engaged with the central government on certain matters are no longer relevant to those issues – mayors and local councils instead taking their place. But is it not just changes from the central government. Changes to devolution have led to complete overhauls in the location of authority and responsibility within councils too. With new unitary authorities proposed and new metro mayors popping up, changes are going to be significant.

Though the changes will be instrumental in altering who local communities go to for support, it will also change where businesses can influence policy makers. The people businesses should approach to influence will change and those who have an interest in businesses will change – stakeholders will change. 

It’ll therefore be crucial that businesses understand the new legislative landscape they find themselves within and adapt in a timely manner. Not just for convenience, but for survival.

Walk Through Walls can help

Walk Through Walls are specialists in public affairs, business development and stakeholder strategy. By combining these three specialist elements together, we can provide tailored support for businesses trying to navigate the tough political landscape.

Our knowledge and experience from working within all parts of politics allow for a thorough understanding of how the system works whilst our public affairs and political monitoring expertise ensure we are up-to-date. If your business needs support identifying and engaging with stakeholders, get in touch. 
Understanding this new landscape isn’t optional, it’s essential. Walk Through Walls helps clients navigate it.