The Guardian view on levelling up: easy to say, hard to do

The Guardian

The collapse of the regional airline Flybe carries a serious and timely warning for Boris Johnson’s government. Having campaigned in December’s general election on a promise to “level up” the disparate and unequal regional economies of the UK – and having won a spectacular election victory in some of the more deprived English regions – ministers had been keen to show that they meant it. When the Exeter-based airline threatened to collapse in January, the government duly stepped in to attempt a rescue package to keep it in the air. Now, less than two months later, Flybe has gone into administration anyway. The coronavirus outbreak’s impact on airline bookings was the last straw. The effect on regional connectivity in these islands is likely to be grim. Around 2,000 people have lost their jobs, with others likely to follow in the supply chain.

The wider lesson of Flybe is that ministers can do the right thing, as they did here, but without achieving the sustained effect that they had hoped for. This lesson matters a lot, because the problem of regional inequality is very extensive and extremely complex. It also matters because the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is expected to set out a more strategic approach to the problem and to make it a centrepiece of next week’s budget. It is important for the regions and the country, never mind the government, that he gets it right. Flybe is a reminder in two ways that this is not easy: first because big sums of money are often involved over a long period in effective government interventions, and second because the economic impact of coronavirus may also be fierce in unforeseen ways.

None of this should cast doubt on the importance of the levelling-up project. But it underlines that such a project is costly, complex and long-term. It won’t do for the project to be merely a slogan. But it won’t do either to dismiss it as hopelessly inadequate even before it has begun. The test of it will lie in a variety of things, among them the scale of the financial commitment, the breadth and adaptability of the approaches, the role of local democracy, and the recognition that the benefits (and any disbenefits) may only become clear over a much longer period than one electoral cycle. For that reason, the chair of the Industrial Strategy Council, Andy Haldane, was right to suggest last month that a system of targets will be necessary.

In a well-timed pre-budget intervention this week, a report from the centre right thinktank Onward proposes a series of areas and goals on which Mr Sunak could concentrate. The core of the report is its argument that investment to improve prosperity and productivity goes disproportionately to regions that are already more prosperous and productive. This argument has often been made in relation to capital investment in transport, and is also a frequent source of complaint in the cultural sphere. But the report broadens the charge. London, it argues, gets nearly twice the UK average R&D spend per head and five times as much support for affordable housing as the rest of England. Only London and Scotland consistently benefit from above-average spending levels in all the areas surveyed in the report.

Mr Sunak has an opportunity to start to turn the tide next week. The Onward report lists several options: they include changing the Treasury’s “green book” methodology favouring London and the south-east, ringfencing funding for less wealthy regions like the east Midlands, and more devolution. This last is particularly important. Regions need an effective democratic voice in this reallocation. Mr Sunak could also consider the suggestion that instead of confining the UK’s cutting-edge technology research inside the south-east’s existing “golden triangle”, it could be centred in Glasgow or Newcastle.

This is, in every sense, a national debate for Britain. The country is out of joint. The nations and regions need a new growth-enhancement settlement. All the political parties know it. Innovative thinking on the centre-right exists alongside Labour’s big debate about the revival of towns. Britain has a long and at times effective tradition of levelling through economic transfers. It is in need of revival. This could be a big moment for that. Much will depend on how far Mr Sunak rises to the challenge next week.

REPORT
Levelling Up Growth-Enhancing Spending

Rebalancing growth-enhancing spending

The Observer

'The Observer' quotes figures from Onward's 'Breaking Blue' report which breaks down the results of the 2024 election. They use the figures to make a case for what the next Tory leader need to prioritise.

Conservative Home

'Conservative Home' mentions Onward's 'The British Entrepreneur' report. The article quotes Onward's findings that British workers are becoming “unusually risk-averse” when it comes to setting up their own business.

The Financial Times

Onward's 'Capital Issues' report is quoted in a 'Financial Times' article on AIM markets and UK small-cap stocks.

The Financial Times

'The Financial Times' covers Onward's 'Capital Issue' report which calls for the abolition of London's AIM markets.

CityAM

A 'CityAM' article about abolishing London's AIM markets quotes Onward's 'Capital Issues' report.

CityAM

'CityAM' quotes Onward's 'Capital Issues' report, which calls for the immediate abolition of London's AIM market.

Share Talk

'Share Talk' cites Onward's 'Capital Issues' paper, which calls for an urgent scrapping of London's AIM market.

The Independent

'The Independent' quotes an article written for Onward by Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP about the future of the Conservative party in the next election.

Politico

In their Monday round-up, 'Politico' covers a speech made by Rt Hon James Cleverly at an Onward event.

Politics.co.uk

'Politics' covers a speech made by Rt Hon James Cleverly MP at Onward's conference event.

Politics.co.uk

'Politics' website cites Onward's findings that the Conservative party cannot afford to play to Reform switchers after the general election.

UnHerd

'UnHerd' quotes Onward's 'Breaking Blue' report about the future of the Conservative party after the general election.

The Sun

'The Sun' quotes Onward's 'Breaking Blue' report in its article about the future of the Conservative party after the 2024 general election.

This Telegraph article covers Robert Jenrick's speech about the future of the Conservative party. The article quotes Onward's  'Breaking Blue' report outlining why the Conservatives lost the last election.

The Times

'The Times' uses polling data from Onward's 'Breaking Blue' report in its coverage of the election betting scandal, specifically in relation to how scandals in British politics have affected the electorate.

X

Andrew Griffith MP retweets Onward's 'Igniting Innovation' report. He argues that we cannot take a ‘regulate-first, fret-later’ approach to technology regulation, and points to the report as a clear summary of the problem and proposed solutions.

X

Policy Director of the thinktank 'Reform' praises Onward's 'Igniting Innovation' report for addressing how technology regulation is harming innovation

City AM

'CityAM' echoes Onward's recommended tech regulation reforms in our latest 'Igniting Innovation' report.

The Telegraph

Nick Timothy MP CBE, co-author of Onward's 'A Conservative Economy' report, writes a piece for 'The Telegraph' on the future of Conservative economic thinking.

The Spectator

'The Spectator' covers Onward's radical reform of property taxation outlined in the 'Fairer Property Tax' report.

The Yorkshire Post

'The Yorkshire Post' cites Onward's findings that mayors should create development corps to aid levelling up.

Substack

George Freeman MP and the Onward team have written a substack outlining the proposals in the new 'Future Frontiers' report.

The Telegraph

'The Telegraph' covers Onward's policy recommendations to reform property tax to make the system fairer. They show that Onward's recommendations are supported across the political spectrum.

Global Venturing

The UK's universities are struggling to capitalize on their world-class research. 'Global Venturing' covers Onward's policy recommendations that the government should create a university fund accelerator to boost spinouts from universities.

The Times

'The Times' covers the findings in Onward's 'Venturing Out' report that universities are failing to capitalize on world-class research and what can be done to rectify the problem.

Local Gov

'Local Gov' website discusses Onward's policy recommendations that support in low council tax areas should be reduced to raise an extra £600m which could be used to make the system fairer.

The Municipal Journal

'The Municipal Journal' covers the policy recommendations made in Onward's 'A Fairer Property Tax' report. The report argues that the government should reduce support where council tax is low to make the system fairer.

Business Green

'Business Green' quotes Onward's published polling data that over a third of UK drivers buying a new car this year want to go electric.

iNews

'iNews' covers Onward's policy recommendations that VAT on electricity should be cut in order to boost electric vehicle adoption.

The Guardian

'The Guardian' discusses Onward's 'A Fairer Property Tax' report arguing for a wealth tax on housing.

iNews

'iNews' echoes Onward's policy recommendations that the government should cut VAT on electricity for EVs to aid the public in making the transition to electric cars.

GB News

'GB News' echoes Onward's call that Britain needs a New Deal for Parents, focusing on Onward's policy recommendations that the two-child benefit cap should be scrapped.

Public Finance

'Public Finance' discusses Onward's policy recommendations that the two-child benefit cap should be scrapped.

The New Statesman

'The New Stateman' quotes Onward's 'Age of Alienation' report in its discussion on the loneliness epidemic currently facing our young people.

The Times

'The Times' echoes Onward's warnings in its 'Future Frontiers' report that major reforms are needed if the UK is to be able to capitalize on emerging technologies.

The Mirror

'The Mirror' supports Onward's policy recommendations that the two-child benefit limit should be scrapped.

The Spectator

'The Spectator' references Onward's 'New Deal for Parents' report and discusses whether the 'motherhood penalty' is leading to the UK's declining birth rates.

The Telegraph

'The Telegraph' echoes Onward's policy recommendations in the 'New Deal for Parents' report that couples should received a £5k tax break so that they can afford to have children.

Politico

'Politico' mentions Onward's new report 'A New Deal for Parents' in their weekly round-up.

The Times

'The Times' covers Onward's 'New Deal for Parents' report, describing how the 'motherhood penalty' is driving women to have fewer children.

The Daily Mail

'The Daily Mail' covers Onward's 'New Deal for Parents' report, specifically on the concept of the 'motherhood penalty'.

Gov.uk

The Government announce a consultation on operational reforms to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, which was recommended by Onward's report, 'Wired for Success'.

The Guardian

'The Guardian' quotes Onward's 'Breaking Blue' report, discussing the findings that former Conservative supporters who opted for Reform or the Lib Dems in the general election had common characteristics, including skepticism towards Keir Starmer and worries about immigration.

iNews

'iNews' quotes Onward's 'Breaking Blue' report to discuss how the Tories need to position themselves ahead of their general election defeat.

Research Professional News

Allan Nixon, head of science and technology at Onward, co-writes a piece in 'Research Professional News' about the need to prioritise an ambitious vision for science policy.

UPP Foundation

Deputy Chief Executive at Onward, Adam Hawksbee, writes an essay for the UPP Foundation about university philanthropy.

Bloomberg

'Bloomberg' mentions Onward's 'A Conservative Economy' report in the context of Labour's polling ahead of the general election.

The Independent

'The Independent' reports on a speech made by Robert Jenrick on manufacturing at Onward's under-35s only event in March this year.

Conservative Home

Project Director, Gavin Rice, writes in 'Conservative Home' about how Britain needs an industrial strategy that supports manufacturing as well as innovation.

The National News

'The National News' mentions Onward's 2023 report which states that Clacton ranks among the top 1% of most deprived neighborhoods in England, in the context of Nigel Farage's prospects in the upcoming general election.

The Municipal Journal

'The Municipal Journal' quotes Onward's report on the potential of mayoral devolution.

The Mirror

An article in 'The Mirror' uses figures from Onward's 'Smiles All Round' report about the dental crisis.

Cross Questions

Onward Director, Sebastian Payne, appears on an episode of 'Cross Questions'.

CityAM

An article in 'CityAM' cites Onward's suggestion that a British data library would allow startups and scientists to easily access the data needed to build AI models, attracting talent and investment to Britain.

Conservative Home

Head of the 'New Deal for Parents' programme, Phoebe Arslanagić-Little, writes in 'Conservative Home' about how the Conservative manifesto needs to make a generous offer to parents.

The Independent

'The Independent' covers Onward's findings that the apprenticeship levy risks causing a further sharp decline in the number of apprenticeship starts.

The Times

'The Times' echoes Onward's 'Great British National Service' report on what National Service could look like in the UK.

The Spectator Australia

'The Spectator Australia' cites Onward's report 'Trading Places' to make the case that international student caps should be more stringent.

New Philanthropy Capital

'New Philanthropy Capital' quotes Onward's 'Giving Back Better' report in their report on how civil society should be a key partner in delivering government commitments.

The Shropshire Star

The Shropshire Star reports on Onward's findings that the new flexibility in the apprenticeship levy risks causing a sharp decline in the number of apprenticeship starts.

The Telegraph

'The Telegraph' use figures from Onward's 'Great British National Service' report to highlight the potential benefits of National Service.

Sky News

'Sky News' mention Onward's 'Great British National Service' report to outline what national service in the UK could look like.

Bloomberg

'Bloomberg' mentions Onward's 'Great British National Service' report to make a case for UK national service.

The Times

'The Times' covers Onward's report 'Back to Basics' on neighbourhood policing.

The Spectator

'The Spectator' mentions Onward's report 'Great British National Service'.

The Times

'The Times' quotes from Onward's report 'Great British National Service'.

The Critic

Onward Director, Gavin Rice, writes about reindustrializing Britain in 'The Critic'.

The Sun

'The Sun' covers Onward's 'Off Course' report.

Fair Comment

Onward's 'A Conservative Economy' report is cited in a 'Fair Comment' about wealth inequality.

iNews

Onward Deputy Director Adam Hawksbee talks to iNews about 'Levelling Up'.

The New Statesman

Onward's Deputy Director, Adam Hawksbee, and researcher Shivani Menon discuss philanthropy in 'The New Statesman'. Read the article here.

Research Professional News

Onward's 'Off Course' report is cited in an article in 'Research Professional News'.

The Yorkshire Post

'The Yorkshire Post' cites Onward's 'Smiles All Round' report.

New Economy Brief Digest

This week’s 'New Economy Brief' unpacks Onward's 'A Conservative Economy' report.

Onward's report, 'A Conservative Economy', is covered in 'Times Higher Education'.

Dentistry

Onward's report 'Smiles All Round' is covered in 'Dentistry'.

City AM

'CityAM' mentions Onward's call for a British Library for Data from our upcoming paper, 'Future Frontiers'.

The Yorkshire Post

Onward's report 'Smiles All Round' is covered in 'The Yorkshire Post'.

The Mirror

Onward's report 'Smiles All Round' is covered in 'The Mirror'.

The Telegraph

Onward's 'Smiles All Round' report is covered in 'The Telegraph'

Nick Timothy MP quotes his co-authored Onward report, 'A Conservative Economy', in 'The Daily Telegraph'

iNews

Onward Director Sebastian Payne wrote in the i about what should be in the Budget next week.

Politico

Tories pray for a miracle after a lackluster budget

Onward's Deputy Director Adam Hawksbee is quoted in Politico discussing the budget and praising Hunt's prioritisation of working families.

The New Statesmen

Deputy Director Adam Hawksbee made the case for more neighbourhood policing in The New Statesman. 

City AM

Onward's Deputy Director, Adam Hawksbee outlines how we can avoid another cost of living crisis in City AM.

The Guardian

Birthrate in UK falls to record low as campaigners say ‘procreation a luxury

The Guardian quotes Head of the New Deal for Parents Phoebe Arslanagić-Little discussing how the UK is pricing people out of parenthood.

iNews

Onward's Director Sebastian Payne discusses the need for a national neighbourhood policing uplift across the UK in the i.

iNews

Onward's Director Sebastian Payne discusses the impact that threats of violence towards MPs can have on democracy in the i.

The Telegraph

Raise council tax to fix policing, says think tank

The Telegraph discusses Onward's Back to Basics report that urged the Government to scrap the current £13 cap on council tax increases to allow local authorities to support further policing.

The Yorkshire Post

Raise taxes by 45p a week to fund thousands of community police, think tank urges

The Yorkshire Post covered Onward's Back to Basics plan to rebuild local policing across England and Wales.

Daily Mail

Home Secretary welcomes the idea of an extra 19,000 bobbies on the beat to restore neighbourhood policing

Onward's report 'Back to Basics' is highlighted in a Daily Mail article on restoring neighbourhood policing.