Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove (Peter Byrne/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)London’s business leaders said on Thursday they were “disappointed” with the Government’s flagship “levelling up” plans, accusing ministers of cutting the capital out of future public investment for “political gain”.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove announced plans for devolution in England and improvements in the economy, housing, education, transport and culture by 2030.
The White Paper aims to shift investment away from London and the South East to other parts of the country as part of Boris Johnson’s election pledge to spread prosperity across the UK. But London business groups said ignoring the capital risked damaging the UK economy.
Richard Burge, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “The government is choosing to cut London out of productive investment for the sake of optics and for political gain.”
Eddie Curzon, London director for the CBI, said levelling up must not be achieved by “watering down London”. Ros Morgan, chief executive of Heart of London Business Alliance, said policymakers should not ignore “the importance of London in generating national revenue”.
