Ben Houchen urges next leader to level up the North East

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has outlined a five-point ‘Levelling Up Pledge’ that he is urging all candidates to sign to show “unwavering support,” for levelling up and the communities we pledged to support in the 2019 general election.

The pledge, which as a minimum the metro mayor expects the new prime minister to deliver, includes a commitment to keep the Ministry for the Department for Levelling Up with a cabinet level Secretary of State; reform the Treasury Green Book evaluation process which currently discriminates against Towns and rural areas, which largely impacts the North of England and a commitment by the candidates to the full construction of Northern Powerhouse Rail.  

Read more: Are we seeing a start to real levelling up?

Writing to all declared candidates, mayor Houchen said: “In recent months under the leadership of the current Prime Minister we have seen huge investment into areas that have been forgotten by previous Governments of all colours. I would like to think that whatever anybody’s politics, this can be seen as a hugely positive thing.”

In a warning to those looking to take over from Boris Johnson mayor Houchen said that investment in the north cannot be “lost in the political wilderness after a change in leadership” adding that we “simply cannot allow for that to happen again.”

Through levelling up the Government has provided nearly £16.5billion in funding to some of the most left behind and forgotten areas of the country.

Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool has received more than £419million to invest in local priorities such as improving public transport, upgrading railway stations across the region, supporting local businesses to create good-quality well paid jobs, and transforming local town centres to make them more vibrant welcoming places.

“In 2019 voters across the north put their faith in Boris Johnson and the Conservatives because he promised to invest and level up their towns; providing significant funding for places like Redcar, Dewsbury, Blackpool and Bury,” Mr Houchen said.

“Generations of families in these towns had never considered voting for us before the 2019 general election and we cannot ignore these voters. They put their trust in us for the first time to deliver for their communities, communities that until that point had been ignored by governments of all stripes. 

“Despite the pandemic progress has been made and no candidate can backslide on the 2019 commitment, red wall voters cannot be ignored. That’s why I’m calling on every MP that throws their hat into the ring to sign up to my five-point Levelling Up Pledge.

“The uncertainty of a leadership election cannot lead to uncertainty about the future of levelling up. There must be unwavering support for this critical policy otherwise red wall and left behind areas will clearly and loudly make their feelings known at the ballot box in 2024.”

Read more: Darlington levelling up optimism: 'We won't give up'

The five-point ‘Levelling Up Pledge’

1. A commitment to keep the Ministry for the Department for Levelling Up with a Cabinet level Secretary of State. We have seen previous attempts to increase investment in the North, such as the Northern Powerhouse, become lost in the political wilderness after a change in leadership and we simply cannot allow for that to happen again. Too many people have put their faith in our Party, many for the first time, to deliver real change to regions all around the country and reneging on this promise would rightly not be forgotten. The maintenance of this department will ensure that minds in Whitehall continue to be focussed on Levelling Up and do not slip back into old, damaging biases.

1. Reform the Treasury Green Book evaluation process which currently discriminates against Towns and rural areas, which largely impacts the North of England. The current system has created a self-fulfilling prophesy favouring economically successful parts of the UK and has, as a result, continually held back vital investment in the north. A simple recalculation of how treasury decisions are made would go a significant way to rebalancing our economy.

1. A commitment to work with Mayors around the country to seek a furthering and deepening of English Devolution. We have seen across the country how the devolution of powers to regional Mayors has delivered tangible change to our nation and this relationship needs to be looked at again and expanded if we are genuinely serious about improving the lives of local people. Moreover, where English devolution deals are already in place, we must go further and commit to deepening the powers of Mayor’s around post-16 education. This is vital in allowing us to skill local people and enable them to take good quality jobs in their local communities without feeling like they need to ‘move away’ to build a life, a career and a family, which has seen a brain drain from areas across the country that need levelling up.

1. Commit to the full construction of Northern Powerhouse Rail. The East-West Connectivity in the North of England is quite simply not fit for purpose. The prolonged journey times are stifling business opportunities and preventing growth in the areas that need it most. Though a financially significant project, this would truly help unleash our northern towns and cities – something let’s not forget 14 million people entrusted us to do.

1. In areas where we have metro mayors, allow for real fiscal responsibility by starting to devolve tax from Whitehall. Agree to re-award all additional business rates above a baseline to elected Mayoral regions to incentivise pro-growth policies and private enterprise. In creating what in effect will be far reaching special economic zones it will allow local officials to direct cash to the areas of need in a more targeted and efficient manner. We know that even with the best will in the world it is impossible for money to be spent effectively from London. Therefore, in giving Mayor’s even more fiscal freedom we can truly tackle the divide that has been created between southern cities and our northern towns by allowing regions to focus on pro-growth pro-business policies.