The govt will today release its detailed Levelling Up plan which will set out a blueprint to bring prosperity “to all parts” of the UK.
But research by the @NEF suggests the current agenda puts too much focus on place and not enough on people.
Here’s what the analysis shows 👇
The govt hopes to increase the number of city-region mayors and offer all of England a "London-style" devolution deal.
@michaelgove told @KayBurley that the Levelling Up White Paper will help those who have been "overlooked and undervalued for years" ⏬
But NEF chief executive Dr @Miatsf says the current plans, which prioritise place-based funding, fall short and focus too much on infrastructure.
"You need to start with the people, you need to start trying to drive up living standards", she says
As the UK faces a cost of living crisis, it’s important to realise that the levelling-up need isn’t just dependent on local jobs and businesses.
Energy costs are squeezing household budgets across the UK.
Take a look at Sunderland for example 👇
Since the 1980s, Sunderland has become the UK's leading hub for car production, with 20,000 manufacturing jobs.
But despite high productivity, it has considerable deprivation. Average disposable household income in 2019 was over £16,000 per person, 22% below England’s average
There are a number of reasons why economic activity and local living standards can become disconnected.
Firstly, money made by businesses does not always flow into the local community, as it is used to pay shareholders and workers that do not live in the surrounding area
More than two in five neighbourhoods in Sunderland are in the top 20% most income-deprived in England (the dark red areas), but many of them border some of the most affluent parts of the country (the dark blue areas)
"We have a growing number of young people in this country who do not subscribe to British values... We see them on the streets of London every Saturday" - @Nigel_Farage
"Are we talking about Muslims here?" - @TrevorPTweets
"Can you imagine how offensive that is a British Muslim?"
Sky's @TrevorPTweets challenges comments made by @Nigel_Farage.
#TrevorPhillips
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube trib.al/wkmumC6
Sky's @TrevorPTweets asks @Nigel_Farage if "the Reform platform for this election is every problem you face is down to immigrants and, in particular, to Muslims".
Would you want to live forever online? 💻 One technology entrepreneur has made this a reality.
Sky’s Arthi Nachiappan tries out the AI technology which reimagines our relationship with the dead 👇
When his father was diagnosed with cancer, tech entrepreneur Artur Sychov was inspired to create a virtual reality tool which would allow him to live forever online
Artur called it ‘live forever mode’.
It features digital avatars who can simulate a person’s voice, mannerisms and movements after just 30 minutes of the user being observed
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK
This is what the big social media companies had to say about how they safeguard children on their platforms
Hearings have taken place today at the International Court of Justice, where Israel stands accused of committing genocide in Gaza.
But what is genocide and why is South Africa taking Israel to court? 🧵👇
South Africa is arguing Israel is breaching the UN convention on genocide by "killing Palestinians in Gaza, causing them serious bodily and mental harm, and inflicting on them conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction"
Israel has described the lawsuit as a "despicable and contemptuous exploitation" of the court
Israel said Gazans could flee to this neighbourhood - then it was hit.
Using on-the-ground footage, satellite imagery and mapping software, Sky News found that a building in Deir al Balah was hit on 5 December, one day after Israel told civilians they could flee to the city.
Responding to our findings, the IDF did not deny it was responsible for the blast.
Two independent experts told Sky that the extent of the damage, size of the rubble, lack of burn damage and apparent precision of the strike were consistent with an airstrike, not a misfired rocket.
Without access to the weapon remnants Sky News cannot say for sure who was behind the blast.
Israel has said it was striking military targets in Deir al Balah that day. Sky has not seen any reports of other groups firing rockets in the area at that time.