Fulfilling the UK election promise to level-up the regions

FORMBY, U.K. - March 5, 2020 - PRLog -- The UK's referendum decision to leave the European Union has ultimately resulted in the country's withdrawal from the EU under a Conservative Government led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In doing this the Government has made a series of undertakings to the British people including its intention to: accept only limited conditions from the EU in any trade deal secured between them in this transitional year; undertake trade deals with other countries as a matter of urgency; and 'level up' the regions in comparison with the London area.

The need for regional development is set in the context of significant regional displeasure with the current national settlement as evidenced both in the referendum and in the subsequent election that brought Johnson to power. These events are taken to bind together the Brexit decision, the election of the Johnson Government and the need for a more focussed and unfettered approach to regional development.

In an article just published by PFMConnect, David Fellows considers what a successful regional outcome might be. He suggests four requirements:

* A country where diverse opportunities are available throughout the regions

* A Government that shows commitment to redressing London-centredness in its own thinking

* A country that questions the orthodoxies of those in influencing positions for whom aspiration is often London-centric

* A country that is united and economically successful, including the development of formal trading relationships worldwide

He examines these issues in turn and pays particular attention to the way in which the government could boost regional economies, develop regional identities and improve the self-sustaining nature of local communities that are experiencing a steady and destructive drift of younger people to London and the South East.

The author regards regional policy development as crucial to the success of the current Conservative Government.

This article can be found in full at: http://blog-pfmconnect.com/a-regional-response-to-brexit/.

About the Author
David Fellows is a public financial management and digital communication expert and a director of PFMConnect. Previously he worked at a senior level in UK local government and in the Cabinet Office as an advisor on local government reform. He has written pieces on public financial management and digital communication for the World Policy Journal, the IMF, the Australian National University and USAID.

About PFMConnect
PFMConnect Ltd is a company dedicated to the improvement of public financial management (PFM) and public service governance with a particular interest in international development. The company has a range of non-financial expertise to complement its PFM core and seeks advance the use of digital technology to improve public service delivery and citizen engagement.