Title

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Levelling up funding is 'poorly targeted' report warns

There are 6.5 million people living in deprived local authorities that will not be helped by the Government's levelling up funding, new analysis has revealed.

There are 6.5 million people living in deprived local authorities that will not be helped by the Government's levelling up funding, new analysis has revealed.

The research, published by Centre for Progressive Policy, said these areas will be excluded from the Levelling up Fund, Towns Fund and Community Renewal Fund.

It also shows the Government's key policies for economic recovery will benefit London over the rest of the UK.

Government support for London is set to be £7bn higher than the North East and North West combined, argues CPP. It also said London is likely to receive the biggest tax break per head.

Ben Franklin, head of research at CPP, said: 'Given this outlook, we can only assume that Government has either failed to grasp the nature, scale and urgency of inclusive recovery or has given up on its own levelling up agenda.

'The Government must urgently change tack to ensure that local communities with the greatest need are sufficiently funded to deliver vital services. Focusing on rebooting locally led industrial policies which can create good, well paid jobs in traditionally left behind places would deliver the government's levelling up agenda more effectively than these ill thought through tax break schemes.'

ECONOMIC GROWTH

The art of the deal

By Cllr Stephen Alambritis | 12 February 2026

Stephen Alambritis says local authorities need to think commercially to thrive – and he explains what one London council’s £186m deal proves.

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Reaping the benefits of collaboration on technology and innovation piece by piece

By Eddie Copeland | 11 February 2026

There is a powerful logic to making intelligent use of data, technology and a wide range of transformation methods at a regional level through models such as...

ECONOMIC GROWTH

There's no short cuts on the long road to recovery

By Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton | 11 February 2026

SIGOMA strongly backs the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods’ call for urgent action to support the most deprived communities, says Sir Stephen Houghton.

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Scottish councils struggle to close budget gaps

By Martin Ford | 10 February 2026

Councils are struggling to balance their books following the announcement of the Scottish Budget.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman