Knowsley reported to receive £0 per head of funding under new 'Levelling Up' plan
Some of the most affluent areas have received upwards of £90 per head
As Michael Gove announces the Government's plans for 'Levelling Up', it has been reported that some of the most deprived areas in the country will receive as little as £0 per head.
The Guardian has reported that Knowsley will join Southampton in receiving the very least in the country through the Government's new 'Levelling Up' plan.
They are part of the eight local authorities that are among the poorest in England but are still receiving less than £10 per head from the four announced funds.
The long-promised plans that have been announced by the Levelling Up Secretary are in place to close the gap between the richest and poorest parts of the country.
However, some of the most affluent areas, such as Mid Bedfordshire, which is represented by the culture secretary, Nadine Dorries, have received amounts upwards of £90 per head.
Additionally, Sajid Javid's constituency, Bromsgrove, will receive £148.33 per head.
'Real levelling up is being delivered by local leaders'
Liverpool Metro Mayor, Steve Rotherham, has tweeted that despite the lack of central Government funding, Liverpool City Council have been investing heavily in Knowsley.
Mr Rotherham mentioned both the 'total regeneration of Kirkby after decades of private sector neglect' and 'the transformation of Prescot' in his tweet.
'Real levelling up is being delivered by local leaders', he tweeted.
What is Levelling Up?
'Levelling Up' was at the forefront of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's 2019 general election campaign which saw the Tories make huge gains in Labour's previously impenetrable "red wall" strongholds.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said there are "12 big missions" the Government wants to achieve by 2030 in order to improve the lives of those outside London and the South East.
The strategy aims to improve services such as education, broadband and transport, but will take until 2030.
Mr Gove has said that the strategy is not aimed at providing these areas with no funding, but ensuring that the money is spent effectively on local priorities.
The Levelling Up Secretary said: "That was money put in, if you like, in departmental bank accounts, and now we are spending that money and it's being allocated to the mayors and other local leaders who are best placed to drive change in their own communities."
What are the "12 missions"?
- A growth in pay, employment and productivity everywhere.
- Improving the gap between he top and worst performing areas.
- 'Increase domestic public research and development outside the Greater South East increase by at least 40%'.
- Improving local transport systems to be that akin to London's.
- Access to 5G broadband to the "large majority" of households.
- Every part in England to get a 'London-style' devolution deal if wanted.
- 'Eliminating' illiteracy and innumeracy from primary schools.
- Increasing the number of those with high quality skill training.
- Decreasing the gap between healthy life expectancy.
- The number of poor quality rented homes halved.
- Rejuvenation of the most run down town centres and communities across the country.
- A significant decrease in crime in the most disruptive areas.