Barrow-in-Furness MP Simon Fell has joined a new taskforce has been created to help make sure people across Barrow and Furness feel the benefits of ‘levelling up’.
He is one of 40 Conservative MPs to join the Levelling UP Taskforce to try to ensure the Government’s plans for the whole country are put into place.
And Simon says the new body is designed to make sure that people in places like Barrow, which returned a first Conservative MP for 27 years in December, will not be left behind and get the opportunity to make the most of their talent.
The Levelling Up Taskforce is working with thinktank Onward to look at ways of improving economic and social performance in areas of the country seen as lagging behind others.
An Onward report says earnings in seats the Conservatives won in 2019 are on average 5 per cent lower than in Labour-held seats, and houses in Labour seats are worth on average £62,000 (a third) more.
Simon says the report shows how much work is needed in places like Barrow to ensure people get the opportunities to make the most of the talents they have.
“This taskforce has been set up to help all areas of the country which need assistance to improve their economies and raise earnings and employment,” he said.
“Like many new Conservative MPs elected in December, it was on the back of a levelling up agenda and promises places like Barrow will not be left behind.
“This taskforce is determined to make sure we drive forwards on that agenda and do the best we can to make lives better for people across Furness, Cumbria, and the whole country and ensure they have the chances they need to make the most out of their lives.”
