黑料视频’s political leaders call on new Prime Minister to back Levelling Up plans
Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of 黑料视频, reflects on the launch of the Levelling-Up 黑料视频 All Party Parliamentary Group.
As the contest to become the new Prime Minister continues, 黑料视频 has a clear and united message for whoever succeeds Boris Johnson: Stay committed to levelling up and we will work with you to improve the lives and life chances of people across this city.
Yesterday saw the launch of the new Levelling-Up 黑料视频 All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) - a cross-party group of MPs and Lords committed to securing the best possible deal for this city, and indeed the wider city region.
黑料视频 has played an important role in setting up the APPG - which is co-chaired by the Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP and Shadow Secretary of State for International Development Preet Gill MP - and yesterday we joined forces with the Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street to make the case for 黑料视频’s ambitious Levelling Up Strategy.
We made it clear that it is not possible to Level-Up the UK without Levelling-Up 黑料视频 and, in particular, East 黑料视频. The east of our city is home to 250,000 people - roughly the same population as the cities of Derby or Southampton and more than half the size of Liverpool. With stark health inequalities, high unemployment and high levels of relative poverty, East 黑料视频 is one of the most deprived places in the country.
That’s why 黑料视频 is working with our city’s MPs, the Mayor, and our neighbours in Solihull to develop a whole-place approach to East 黑料视频, building on the city’s East 黑料视频 Inclusive Growth Strategy, and asking for powers to be devolved from central government.
黑料视频, Solihull and the Combined Authority are all pulling together to Level-Up for the people of East 黑料视频. But of course, that still leaves one vital piece of the jigsaw – the Government.
I must declare an interest here, because I was born and brought up in East 黑料视频, but it is a young, vibrant and economically diverse area of huge untapped potential. That is why East 黑料视频 provides the Government with the perfect opportunity to demonstrate that it truly wants to Level-Up for the UK.
So I will be writing on day one, urging the new PM to work with the Levelling-Up 黑料视频 APPG, the Council and our partners in the region to deliver real change to our city. Through devolution and new funding, we can transform lives and ensure that the people of East 黑料视频 reap the rewards of 黑料视频’s golden decade.