There are 6.5 million people living in deprived local authorities that will not be helped by the Government's levelling up funding, new analysis has revealed.
The research, published by Centre for Progressive Policy, said these areas will be excluded from the Levelling up Fund, Towns Fund and Community Renewal Fund.
It also shows the Government's key policies for economic recovery will benefit London over the rest of the UK.
Government support for London is set to be £7bn higher than the North East and North West combined, argues CPP. It also said London is likely to receive the biggest tax break per head.
Ben Franklin, head of research at CPP, said: 'Given this outlook, we can only assume that Government has either failed to grasp the nature, scale and urgency of inclusive recovery or has given up on its own levelling up agenda.
'The Government must urgently change tack to ensure that local communities with the greatest need are sufficiently funded to deliver vital services. Focusing on rebooting locally led industrial policies which can create good, well paid jobs in traditionally left behind places would deliver the government’s levelling up agenda more effectively than these ill thought through tax break schemes.'
Labour’s shadow communities secretary, Steve Reed, said: This research is further proof that the Conservatives’ claim to be fixing regional inequalities is a sham.
'The Conservatives are blocking regions from getting their fair share of funding so they can funnel it to wealthier areas instead.'
This article first appeared on localgov.co.uk
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