2019 has been a hugely important year politically - with deadlock in the UK parliament and a clear focus on Brexit, domestic policy has taken a back seat. The outcome of the recent General Election means that we now have political certainty and a Government with an ambition to reinvigorate the domestic policy agenda.

Here at Key Cities we haven't stood still, we've invested time and resources into better understanding what makes our network of small cities and towns so important to the national prosperity. Whilst there is much to be proud of, we recognise that there are challenges for our places, some of which are significant and deep rooted, and more needs to be done to ensure that they thrive and reach their potential. More than just investing in our economy, we must break down the divide felt between many of our communities that are outside of the Core Cities.