Today, the Government unveiled its Levelling Up White Paper, setting out plans to transform cities such as Stoke-on-Trent and level up the entire United Kingdom by spreading opportunity and prosperity to all parts of it.
It is the defining mission of this government to level up the country, to break the link between geography and destiny so that no matter where you live, you have access to the same opportunities. Residents of Stoke-on-Trent have so much to offer not just here at home but globally. Whether that be through our proud ceramics industry or our young and ambitious faces of the future. It is pleasing to see that residents of Stoke-on-Trent will now have equal opportunities and the feeling of being left behind can remain firmly in the past.
Many local businesses in our city are eager to recruit and offer more opportunities to residents by increasing their workforce. We have seen a big push from the Government to promote funding available to businesses to help the increase in recruitment across the private sector. Today’s White Paper will help bolster the drive to get more people back into work.
At the heart of the White Paper, there are 12 new National Missions to be achieved by 2030, through which the Government will deliver on its vision for the future with greater opportunity in every part of the country; transport connectivity improving; faster broadband in every community; violent crime falling and better access to the highest standard of education, amongst others.
Stoke-on-Trent last year saw huge announcements with regards to upcoming investment into our city. We saw Stoke-on-Trent being awarded £2.7 million from the Community Renewal Funds and the huge announcement that Stoke-on-Trent had been successful in securing three bids worth £56 million through the Government’s Levelling Up Funds.
While these funds will not doubt help us truly level up Stoke-on-Trent, the challenges we face cannot be resolved overnight. I am determined to see through the delivery of the investments being made in our city. The Government’s Levelling Up White Paper is a secure plan, in writing, that sets out that vision.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council have submitted a bid for up to £90 million of funding under the Bus Back Better strategy, to transform the local public transport network with improved reliability and more bus services across the city. Residents will be pleased to see the white paper set out that the Government will fund ambitious plans for bus improvements in Stoke-on-Trent.
As well as improving public transport, the Government is focused on bringing improvements to local infrastructure networks. It has been announced that an additional £2.6 billion will go towards improving local networks. The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was keen to mention bypass and junction upgrades in Stoke-on-Trent.
The Secretary of State for Levelling up, Housing and Communities, made numerous references to Stoke-on-Trent during his speech to the House of Commons. It was announced that 100% of Arts Council funding announced at SR21 will go to areas outside of London, including more to Stoke-on-Trent. This will help explore how more flagship national cultural institutions can support and strengthen historic culture heritage in cities like Stoke-on-Trent. Jack Brereton MP has already voiced his intentions to work towards ensuring Stoke-on-Trent receives a good portion of these funds.
Many residents will be aware that Stoke-on-Trent has been picked for the location of a new Home Office Hub. The Secretary of State for Levelling up, Housing and Communities, outlined that such a move will bring 500 new job roles into the city by 2025.
A commitment was also made to increase Government R&D investment across the country outside of the south east to places like Stoke-on-Trent by 40%. This is something Jack has repeatedly called for, particularly to support increased investment into industries like ceramics to support them to develop new more efficient and greener technologies. Such investment will help to protect and grow high skilled jobs for our city.
This also follows the announcement that Stoke-on-Trent will be one of the Governments new Education Investment Areas, to drive up standards and investment into our schools across Stoke-on-Trent.
Whilst today’s announcement offers a new sense of ambition, Jack Brereton MP, has vowed to continue working harder than ever to ensure the investment secured for Stoke-on-Trent is delivered on. Jack has also vowed to continue pushing the Government for further investment at ever opportunity.
Jack Brereton Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent South said:
“Today’s publication of the levelling up white paper and the huge focus on Stoke-on-Trent is extremely welcome. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that this level of funding will transform and level up our city. From improving bus services to creating the high skilled better paid jobs our city needs, Stoke-on-Trent is set to benefit from record levels of investment as a result.
The Government’s recognition of our city has come from huge efforts we as the three Conservative Stoke-on-Trent MPs and Conservative led Stoke-on-Trent City Council have been putting to ensure our city at the centre of the Governments attention. Without our voices championing our city, we would still be a forgotten city without the investment our great city deserves.
I will be focusing now on ensuring our city gets the most out of these announcements and that we deliver on levelling up opportunities for everyone across Stoke-on-Trent.”
The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said:
“This White Paper lays out a long-term economic and social plan to make opportunity more equal. It shifts power and opportunity towards the north and midlands, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It guarantees increased investment in overlooked and undervalued communities, in research and development, in education and skills, in transport and broadband, in urban parks and decent homes, in grassroots sport and local culture and in fighting crime and tackling antisocial behaviour.
It is also why we are investing £5 billion in bus services and active travel, with new bus investment today… the green light for bus projects in Stoke-on-Trent.
It is also why every extra penny of Arts Council spending will now be allocated outside London, from celebrating ceramics in Stoke to supporting pride in British history in Bishop Auckland.”
