Thread by @BDavisBriz

Looking forward to what should be an insightful conversation about how the government can make the #LevellingUp agenda work in practise #IfGLevellingUp

https://twitter.com/instituteforgov/status/1498596981215838211

.@bronwenmaddox opens by asking Haldane if the #LevellingUpWhitePaper provides a description as to what #LevellingUp is. Haldane says the 12 Missions were designed to "provide clarity" around what successful levelling up would look like #IfGLevellingUp

Haldane stresses that "Missions" are not government targets, but are "loftier goals" that have actions that governments, private sector, VCSE, etc can all contribute towards to #IfGLevellingUp

To demonstrate whether Missions can be measured, Haldane gives the example of #Devolution - where all areas that are seeking a Devolution Deal should get one within the next ten years #IfGLevellingUp

Maddox asks about quality of life indicators, which she argues are seen as "the core of #LevellingUp", Haldane acknowledges there has been "at least 70 years" of widening regional disparities. Says WP provides metrics to show how Govt wants to "turn the tide" #IfGLevellingUp

Haldane also acknowledges that these are long-term objectives which go beyond "a spending review or electoral cycle". Says Govt needs to explore if present-day policies are sufficient to hit long term targets & make changes now to met that "point on the horizon" #IfGLevellingUp

With the government being required to report annually on the metrics, Haldane believes this will hold "feet to the fire" as Ministers will be forced to face difficult questions if targets are not being meant. Says "Missions designed to prompt systemic change" #IfGLevellingUp

On the concept of "Place", Haldane says that #LevellingUp is "all about people" and that, too often, people's destiny is shaped by the place they live in. Believes that the White Paper addresses the "double whammy" of improving places & improving life chances #IfGLevellingUp

Haldane acknowledges that every place in UK will have the same levels of productivity & pay (eg rural ares will always do "less well" than city regions). However, #LevellingUp is about equalising areas that *can* be equalised (eg "Pride In Place" & wellbeing) #IfGLevellingUp

On funding, Haldane says that, as these are long-term missions, no one single Spending Review will provide sufficient funding. However, says critics of the #LevellingUpWhitePaper "focus too much on the new & not on the news" #IfGLevellingUp

Haldane argues that the Govt already spends significant amounts of cash on investment, infrastructure, education, etc. #LevellingUpWhitePaper was a "retilting" of govt spending to where its money can have the biggest impact #IfGLevellingUp

Haldane highlights the Govt's procurement budget - which spends significant amounts of £. Says that the Social Value Act means that a "tiny tilt" towards SMEs & local businesses can have significant impacts on local economies without new cash #IfGLevellingUp

Maddox asks if this "retilting" will not, in fact, just "level down" London & South-East. Haldane says UK economy is "geographically imbalanced" & retilting seeks to address this #IfGLevellingUp

Giving R&D spend as an example, Haldane argues that the R&D total spend is growing, so it is, in theory, possible to give a greater % to previously underfunded areas without threatening the Golden Triangle #IfGLevellingUp

Maddox asks why previous govts have found addressing regional inequalities "so hard" & why #LevellingUp is the answer - Haldane argues it comes down to longevity of plans. Argues that the WP Missions provide long-term goals & accountability #IfGLevellingUp

Secondly, Haldane says WP also seeks to re-address how Westminster makes decisions "in a more spatially aware way". The White Paper provides structures for cross-Departmental discussions & greater use of place-based data (eg Cabinet Committees) #IfGLevellingUp

Haldane also argues that there is "commitment from the top" with the Levelling Up agenda, so he is optimistic that there will be an incentive to drive the #LevellingUp agenda forward #IfGLevellingUp

Maddox asks about #CivilService relocation - Haldane believes there are advantages from "being separated from the political machinery" as it allows people to see first-hand challenges & opportunities in a way that does not happen when concentrated in one place #IfGLevellingUp

Haldane confirms that govt's #LevellingUp metrics will align with the ONS new Sub-Regional Data Strategy. Believes more granular data will help localities to "tell better stories" - both in terms of what is happening on the ground & if interventions are working #IfGLevellingUp

On #Devolution, Maddox asks how an area gets a Devolution Deal. Haldane says it will be in partnership - both with local authorities who will set out local aspirations & central government who will assess how this aligns with the devolution framework #IfGLevellingUp

Haldane acknowledges that #Devolution had previously been ad-hoc. Believes that going forward, there will be more productive & fruitful conversations about what devolution will look like across England #IfGLevellingUp

The webinar now moves on to a Q&A #IfGLevellingUp

First Q is on where the continuity & leadership will come from once Andy Haldane leaves @luhc. Haldane says that there is currently a Levelling Up Delivery Plan being drafted based on recommendations of WP. This will be led & championed by the Cabinet Committee #IfGLevellingUp

Haldane says that the Delivery Plan will contain named individuals within each Whitehall Department - this will provide both the leadership & accountability to deliver on the #LevellingUp agenda #IfGLevellingUp

Next Q is on how Central Govt can best support #LocalGov to deliver on #LevellingUp. Haldane says that the Local Data Unit will empower local leaders to make better decisions. #IfGLevellingUp

Also says #Devolution deals will need to consider further fiscal devolution, which will empower local leaders to be more accountable for the funding decisions made in their area & aligned with the powers they currently enjoy #IfGLevellingUp

On how to best address regional inequalities, Haldane repeats that it is "fanciful" to think that "everywhere will be like London", but says that the prize of promoting regional strengths are "substantial" for driving economic growth #IfGLevellingUp

On funding for #LevellingUp, Haldane says that he believes there is examples of innovative local leadership for boosting productivity & raising living standards by successfully bringing private investment without central govt cash #IfGLevellingUp

Haldane cites examples in #Cardiff, where a "purposive local leader" was able to mobilise private sector investment in regeneration & building VCSE resilience with "only a comparatively small slug" of public cash #IfGLevellingUp

On whether #LevellingUp as a phrase is too closely associated with Conservatives (& Boris Johnson in particular) & whether a "broader narrative is needed", Haldane says that it was Samuel Johnson in 1763 that first spoke of the "Levelling Doctrine" #IfGLevellingUp

However, on the "branding" of #LevellingUp, Haldane believes that the basic principles of the Agenda would (or should) enjoy cross-party support. He calls on Opposition Parties to come forward with suggestions on how "Levelling Up" could be refined or improved #IfGLevellingUp

On a Q around how #LevellingUp will be implemented in the Devolved Nations, Haldane says that most of the missions are "UK-wide" in scope, but recognises that "collaborative conversations" are needed with Devolved Assemblies so it aligns with devolved competencies #IfGLevellingUp

On UKSPF, Haldane says that Govt is currently working on the prospectus on how funding will be distributed across the country #IfGLevellingUp

Haldane asked if the #LevellingUP agenda will make better use of Social Impact Bonds across the UK. Haldane says he is disappointed at the current rate of maturity of social impact bonds market in UK #IfGLevellingUp

However, Haldane believes that the #LevellingUp agenda focus on outcomes and data may mean that there is an opportunity to increase uptake in Social Impact Bonds - particularly as many of the Missions focus on non-economic returns to investment #IfGLevellingUp

On a Q on what "quick wins" can be gained from the #LevellingUp agenda to keep support going, Haldane highlights #Devolution & #HealthInequalities as areas that should see "tangible improvements" within "years rather than decades" #IfGLevellingUp

Final Q on how to make devolution "stick", Haldane says the framework's focus on "Functional Economic Market Areas" should allow meaningful interventions to occur. However acknowledges there is a "messy" geography between FEMAs & existing administrative boundaries #IfGLevellingUp

Haldane says this is why the WP is supportive of pan-regional partnerships, such as the #WesternGateway, which would allow collaboration & partnerships across local authority & combined authority boundaries #IfGLevellingUp

Ultimately, Haldane says that the WP empowers local authorities to decide what model of #Devolution would work best for them & improve the lives of people in their geographies #IfGLevellingUp

Really insightful presentation on the future of the #LevellingUp agenda. Thanks to Andy Haldane for your insights, to @bronwenmaddox for chairing & @ifgevents/@instituteforgov for hosting! #IfGLevellingUp

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