The last 20 years of local economic interventions have consistently failed to address the inequalities across the UK's most deprived communities, a new report has warned today.

Published by the Institute for Community Studies, the report found that more than £50bn of investment had contributed to 0% average change in the most deprived local authority areas.

The report found community and local involvement was 'largely absent' in decision-making and the design of local economies.

Head of the institute, Emily Morrison, said: 'This report is uncomfortable reading and shows that we need a very different approach to supporting the most deprived places in the country if levelling up is going to realise its ambition.

'It is sobering how many local communities have experienced economic interventions that haven't worked or which are clearly not focused on creating benefit for the people who live, work and rely on these local economies.'