Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison has joined 40 MPs to help push the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda.
Conservative MPs this week have launched a new task force aimed at reducing regional inequality and level up opportunity across the UK. The report, produced for the taskforce, says Conservatives now hold more seats in the lowest-paid areas than Labour.
The Conservatives won a number of traditional Labour heartland seats in the 2019 election, dubbed the breaking down of the red wall. Working towards the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda, this new task force is set to push the Government to commit to reducing regional disparities across the UK.
The report by Harborough, Oadby & Wigston MP Neil O’Brien calls for the Government focus on three key tests: Are the bottom fifth and bottom half of local authorities by earnings growing their earnings more quickly than they have in recent years, are the bottom fifth and bottom half of local authorities with the worst unemployment seeing unemployment rates falling and converging with the national average, are the bottom fifth and bottom half of local authorities with the lowest employment seeing employment rates rising and converging with the national average?
Commenting on the launch of this new taskforce Dehenna Davison said:
“I am delighted to be a part of this taskforce, championing our regions and fighting to help boost our local economies.
Aside from making us sound like the Avengers, the Taskforce is to spearhead levelling up and make sure we deliver for left-behind communities. Frankly, it’s our duty!”