THE GOVERNMENT has insisted it’s levelling up agenda is at the forefront of its priorities despite it being mentioned zero times by the Chancellor in his Spring Statement earlier this week.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has faced criticism from MPs and council leaders after failing to scrap a tax hike on jobs, warning families will “endure significant hardship” within days, while also being accused of being “woefully out of touch with the reality facing millions of families” after he failed to announce an uprating of benefits in his spring statement.
Critics claim the lack of support jeopardises the government’s levelling up agenda and calls into question whether it is still its core mission.
The levelling up white paper, released earlier this year, highlighted the millions of pounds the government is investing throughout the country to create jobs, build new infrastructure and improve town centres.
Despite the concerns, Levelling Up Minister Neil O’Brien said the government’s flagship plan includes supporting people though the cost of living crisis and rising fuel bills despite the lack of a namecheck from the Chancellor.
Read more: County Durham facilities to receive £125k levelling up funds
On a visit to Bishop Auckland on Thursday, Mr O’Brien said: “The things that are in the spring statement are all centrally about levelling up. The big cut in fuel duty, the huge increase in the national insurance threshold, which although it helps everyone, helps those particularly who are on lower incomes.
“Whatever you call them they are all about levelling up and helping people who are working hard and not on a high income have more chances.
“Our levelling up agenda is about trying to fix the foundations of the economy to try and make sure that we can provide more opportunities.”
Mr O’Brien was in the region to oversee construction work on a new community centre in Henknowle, which has received £65,00 investment.
He added: “The levelling up agenda is working at lots of different levels. It’s partly about having those new funds and allowing people to do fantastic things like this new centre.
“It’s about more fundamentally changing all of government spending and the way the government works to make sure that we have a stronger economy in County Durham and the wider North East so there are a lot more high-paying jobs.”
Yet on Newgate Street in the town centre a survey by The Northern Echo in January found there were 34 empty units, highlighting the difficulties high street businesses are facing.
Read more: The plans for Bishop Auckland after securing £72m
Bishop Auckland has been handed £19.9m from the Future High Street Fund, £32.2m from the Towns Fund, as well as an additional £20m from the Levelling Up Fund, which it is hoped will provide a much-needed boost to the area.
Mr O’Brien said added that local authorities will be given greater powers on local decisions to fast track town centre regenerations.
“There is a fundamental change in the way we’re all doing our shopping and we want town centres to be as much about where you work, leisure, and people living in them rather than just shops,” he added.
A move to devolve powers locally – Durham County Council has been invited to agree a new county deal as part of plans to provide more power to the region - will “give people the tools and financial firepower to tackle whatever the issues are in their local community.”
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