The Prime Minister has batted off criticism that the Government’s flagship Levelling Up agenda doesn’t go far enough for Cumbria.
Boris Johnson visited the Cumberland Infirmary’s Northern Centre for Cancer Care today, February 14, to speak to staff and patients about the £35 million facility which brings all cancer care under one roof and means patients no longer have to travel to Newcastle from Cumbria for their treatments.
The centre forms part of the Government’s investment in 48 hospitals across the UK and part of the Levelling Up agenda.
Labour leader of the County Council Stewart Young has previously branded the strategy as ‘a great disappointment’, while Carlisle City Council’s Labour leader questioned whether the commitments do enough to bring people in Carlisle ‘level’ in terms of prosperity.
Addressing a question from Cumbria Crack about criticism that the recently released Levelling Up White Paper doesn’t go far enough to support people in Cumbria, Mr Johnson said: “I really disagree and I think that the Levelling Up White Paper brings together all the thinking behind the Levelling Up agenda.
“It tries to explain why you need to make that commitment as a government to areas that have been left behind. Some classic free-market thinking would be well if an area does not get investment then the market would be cheaper and therefore the market would direct funds to that area.
“But actually what happens is that you get negative feedback and you get a situation where the talent, the potential of an area, is not being unleashed. So Levelling Up is about doing some clever things with infrastructure, with skills.
“Above all, with skills and with technology to give people opportunity and to get the private sector in, that’s what it’s about.
“I’ve mentioned some of the things that we’ve done. You know here in Carlisle, in Workington all around Cumbria.
“Lots of money going in from the Towns Fund, the Levelling Up Fund, money for the university, for transport, for policing and so on. All that creates the bedrock on which business can build with confidence.
“That’s what it’s all about and that’s what we’re doing, and it’s about creating high wage, high skill jobs for the long term.”
Carlisle MP John Stevenson took part in the visit
Joining Mr Johnson on the visit was Conservative MP for Carlisle, John Stevenson.
“I would endorse that,” he added.
“Carlisle is a very good example of Levelling Up, it’s beginning to work. We’ve got extensive investment coming in, but it is also being followed by private sector investment.
“Clark Door – based at Kingmoor Park, north of Carlisle- who are now exporting around the world, we’re talking about a £3 million investment; 2 Sisters investing in their factory facilities.
“Nestle continues to invest, Pirelli continues to invest and the largest company in the world (Amazon) has arrived in Carlisle.”
When pressed to specifically address concerns regarding whether Levelling Up goes far enough for Cumbria, Mr Johnson replied: “Just wait and see and look at the results. You know. Look at what’s happening, look at the investment coming in.
“I would really urge people to read the paper, there’s lots of good stuff in it.”
What does the Levelling Up White Paper say about Cumbria?
Community forest – A new coastal community forest will be created along the west coast of Barrow to Carlisle, which will see up to 150 hectares of trees, woodlands and forest planted, the equivalent of one tree planted for every resident in Copeland, Barrow and Allerdale over the next five years.
It aims to create a minimum of 5,000 hectares of new woodland along a 56-mile stretch of the western coast of Cumbria over the next 25 years – that’s the size of 7,000 football pitches.
The project has received a £220,000 boost from Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund to kickstart planting in the next year. Read more about the project here: Coastal Community Forest plan takes step forward
New or old? This announcement came prior to the Levelling Up White Paper and was announced in November.
Devolution – The white paper outlines that the UK Government “will work to secure a mayoral deal in Cumbria”.
New or old? From 2023, Cumberland Council will govern Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland. Westmorland and Furness Council will govern Eden, South Lakeland and Barrow-in-Furness.
The process of devolution has been ongoing for the last two years, with Cumbria County Council currently pressing ahead to take the Government to court over plans to abolish all the district authorities.
Levelling Up Fund – Barrow is to benefit from a £16 million boost from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
Projects in the bid include work to the Market Hall and improved connectivity through investment in transport infrastructure. Read more about the plans here: Barrow’s £16 million government boost
New or old? The funding announcement was made in December, prior to the release of the Government’s White Paper on Levelling Up.
Towns fund – Barrow-in-Furness secured £25 million for its #BrilliantBarrow project, backed by the University of Cumbria. It is comprised of a series of innovative projects, including a Barrow Learning Quarter.
Read more about the funding here: Multi-million-pound programme of Barrow projects secures final approval
Carlisle secured £19.7 million from the Towns Fund and will fund a number of projects, including the Carlisle Southern Gateway project. Read more here: £19.7 million Carlisle Town Deal plans revealed
Cleator Moor – Working with Copeland Borough Council, the Cleator Moor Town Deal Board secured an offer of £22.5 million from the Government’s £3.6 billion Towns Fund initiative in July 2021.
More details on the proposed projects for Cleator Moor can be found here: Bid to transform Cleator Moor takes next step forward
Millom is to receive £20.6m as part of the Government’s £3.6bn Towns Fund. Read more about the projects proposed here: Millom to receive £20.6m as part of £3.6bn Towns Fund
Workington has received £23 million from the Government’s Towns Fund. To read more about how the money will be spent, visit £23 million awarded to Workington for regeneration
New or old? All of the Towns Fund announcements were made prior to the publishing of the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper.
Future High Streets Fund – Maryport is set to get an £11.5 million boost for its high street from the Future High Streets Fund and will be used to support the town’s local economy. Read more about how the money will be spent here: £11.5 million to breathe new life into Maryport’s high street
Carlisle received £9.1 million government funding through the Future High Streets Fund. Read more about how the money will be spent here: £9.1 million funding boost for Carlisle’s high street revealed
New or old? All Future High Streets Fund announcements were made prior to the release of the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper.
Project Gigabit aims to bring gigabit-capable broadband to 85 per cent of the UK by 2025. Read more about Project Gigabit here: Cumbria one of first to get better broadband from £5 billion Project Gigabit
Strength in Places Fund – £21m will be provided through the Strength in Places Fund for south west Scotland and Cumbria to develop technology to support and decarbonise the dairy industry.
This announcement was made prior to the white paper release.
Read the full Levelling Up White Paper here: Levelling Up the United Kingdom – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson praises ‘amazing’ Carlisle cancer centre
In pictures: Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits £35 million Carlisle cancer centre
