Andrew Carter
Andrew Carter is chief executive of the Centre for Cities
Clear objectives needed for levelling up
Central Government needs to set clear objectives for national programmes like levelling up, says chief executive of the Centre for Cities think-tank, Andrew Carter.
The new mayors will need the support of Westminster to be successful
'We need to give more attention to the powers and resources mayors have, and those they need – notably more control over fiscal matters – to do the job the country needs them to do', says Andrew Carter.
All parts of the country have been levelled down
For the next Government there will be serious choices and decisions to make in order to deliver the economic growth all parts of the country need, says Andrew Carter.
Metro mayors still lack power to shape the future
The HS2 saga over the last few days shows metro mayors still lack the voice and power they need to shape the economic future of their places, says Andrew Carter
What is the economic offer for voters?
The party conferences should offer some insight into policy, says Andrew Carter, but what will they reveal about tackling economic underperformance in our cities
We must support big cities to grow
Over the last 50 years, the UK has – deliberately and sometimes for good reasons – made policy decisions that have curbed the growth of our big cities, says Andrew Carter. 'This approach needs to be reversed.'
Connections start at a local level
The key lesson from last month's elections is that politics start at a local level, says Andrew Carter
The begging bowl approach has run its course
Competition for funding for local projects is no substitute for a clear strategy that makes choices about where money is to be spent to achieve an objective, says Andrew Carter.
Invest in cities now to reap long term rewards
Given further support, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Manchester could do even more and provide benefits for the nation as well their regions, says Andrew Carter.
Levelling up needs swift progress more than ever
Rishi Sunak’s Government has made small steps in the right direction so far on levelling up but this agenda requires serious investment to be successful, according to Andrew Carter.
Going for growth is good but will not be enough on its own
Going for growth is, of course, the right plan to pursue, says Andrew Carter. 'But its success will still rely on improving the performance of our cities and towns, which won’t be achieved by cutting taxes and red tape alone.'
New PM must turn levelling up commitments into action
Next month’s successful candidate should use their first speech as Prime Minister to recommit to levelling up as the key domestic policy of their premiership, with a pledge to kick-start progress immediately, says Andrew Carter.
The new PM needs to get on with levelling up
'The crisis has proved it is more important than ever to bolster our cities and towns against future hardships and this should be at the forefront of the next PM’s mind', says Andrew Carter.
Time to get on with the job of levelling up
Andrew Carter says that with the Government more than half way through its term it is time to see more urgency in delivering levelling up. Delaying progress will only exacerbate inequalities across the UK, he adds.
No time like the present to commit to buses
The importance of buses in levelling up cannot be overstated, but political ambition supported by tough funding decisions will required to realise their potential, says Andrew Carter.
Poorer places are exiting COVID with the same problems they started with
Many less affluent places fared better through the pandemic than more prosperous places, but while this is welcome we should not be complacent about their situation, says Andrew Carter.
Urban densification is key to tackling cities' biggest challenges
Andrew Carter outlines why urban densification is a single solution to three of the biggest policy challenges we face, including the greatest one of all - climate change.
The first step on a long levelling up road.
The Government cannot treat the levelling up White Paper’s publication as ‘job done’, and it will take decades to bridge our country’s geographic divides, says Andrew Carter.
Be bold on devolution
Rather than tinkering around the edges of devolution, the Government should use the Levelling Up White Paper to truly reform local government, says Andrew Carter.
Reaching net zero will be delivered at the local level
While the Government has set a national goal, reaching net zero – and the changes that need to be made – will be delivered at the local level, says Andrew Carter.