Levelling up opportunity – redressing social and economic disparities in the UK

FORMBY, U.K. - Oct. 13, 2020 - PRLog -- In his most recent article on the case for regional regeneration in the UK David Fellows sets regional disadvantage against the London-centric thinking that has become the establish norm in Government, the City, media and other key national institutions.

The levelling up challenge

He suggests that despite the terrible consequences of Covid this is a time of real opportunity. Well before the Covid struck digital technology had introduced new forms of remote working, shopping and entertainment but the virus has accelerated adoption. As a result, greater flexibility of work location has been established. Physical proximity to London is no longer the advantage it once was. This has improved the feasibility of 'levelling up' the regions. This was a commitment made by the Boris Johnson on taking office and reasserted by him at the recent Conservative Party Conference.

The author suggests that given the UK's new found freedoms, new ways of working and new sense of shared responsibility this is the time to redefine Great Britain for the 21^stcentury and levelling up epitomises the aspiration for renewal.

The disadvantages experienced by the regions are, therefore, discussed and the means of redressing the situation are then presented.

Creating a long-term programme

This requires a programme for levelling up opportunity over the next decade. It must be a learning process, developing knowledge of what works in what circumstances. It is now time to clarify the vision and develop measures to drive the programme. Early decisions must also be taken about the first tranche of initiatives. Voters will judge the results.

This article can be found in full at http://blog-pfmconnect.com/levelling-up-opportunity-redressing-social-and-economic-disparities-in-the-uk/

About David Fellows

David Fellows is an accountant who has worked extensively in UK local government, the Cabinet Office as an advisor on local government reform and as an international development PFM advisor. He was a leader in the application of digital communication to UK public sector service delivery. He is a director of PFMConnect.

About PFMConnect

PFMConnect Ltd is dedicated to improving 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 promotes the use of digital technology to improve public service delivery and citizen engagement.