DEvolution and LEVELling UP the NORTH EAST
'We remain committed to devolving power to people and places across the UK. Our ambition is for full devolution across England'.
This website exists to hold the government to account for its 2019 election pledge to level up left-behind parts of the UK, and specifically the North East of England. It will also hold the Prime Minister to the pledge he made to the Convention of the North on 13 September 2019 to 'do devolution properly'.
But the government cannot devolve resources and responsibilities to local authorities that are too risk-averse to accept them. So this site will also examine the role of local politicians in the region, who must play their part. That will require unity, a common sense of purpose and a willingness to collaborate with each other, other sections of civil society and the government.
There must be no repeat of the mistakes of 2016 when £30m a year was thrown away and the area’s economy was split in two because council leaders could not agree to do a devolution deal.
The present government’s devolution model is far from perfect, but right now it’s the only game in town.
The publisher: Peter Morris was a North East journalist for 28 years, specialising in regional politics, and later worked in communications for 14 years for the NHS and the Government Information and Communications Service. In retirement he studied regional devolution at Newcastle University and was awarded a PhD in 2020. You can read his thesis here
Transparency statement: This site is a personal, not-for-profit initiative by the publisher, who is not a member of any political party. Its only commitment is expressed in its title. It is published to foster debate. It will report relevant news and invites opinions. Content is written by the publisher unless otherwise stated.
RECENT POSTS
North East to get £170m from UK Shared Prosperity Fund
The North East is to get a £170m share of the £2.6bn UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) over the next three years to strengthen its …
North East unemployment edges down, economic inactivity up
North East unemployment has edged down again but the improvement has been more than wiped out by a rise in the number of people classed …
Why does this North East constituency offer no A-level education?
The Sunderland constituency of Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Philipson is one of only eight in England without a school or college offering children the …
Political absenteeism could put North East devolution deal at risk
North East council leaders have the opportunity to do a ‘really ambitious’ devolution deal, official papers reveal. But they are in danger of undermining their …
UK energy strategy could mean jobs boost for North East
The North East from Blyth to the Tees stands to gain perhaps thousands of new jobs in the green energy sector as a result of …
Give mayors bigger role in apprenticeships – report
A greater role for mayors in boosting England’s struggling apprenticeship system, which is failing ‘red wall’ constituencies in the north and Midlands in particular, is …
North East gets £163.5m for bus improvements
The North East has been awarded £163.5m by the government for its bus service improvement plan (BSIP) – a sum described by Tobyn Hughes, managing …
North East to share in £7bn transport grants – but by how much?
The North East is to share in a £7bn package to support public transport outside London announced by the government today, though exactly how much …
North East to get Family Hubs in £1bn package
Thousands of babies, children and families will benefit from a £1bn-plus package of support announced today that will see the creation of new Family Hubs …
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK
For more news, analysis and comment on devolution and levelling up in the North East follow www.levelupnortheast.org ... See MoreSee Less

North East's new devolution deal: first details emerge
www.levelupnortheast.org
North East council leaders are trying to negotiate a new devolution deal with the government that would give them at least £35m a year, financial support for the Tyne & Wear Metro and no unfunded lia...- Likes: 0
- Shares: 0
- Comments: 0
For more news, analysis and comment on levelling up and devolution in the North East follow www.levelupnortheast.org ... See MoreSee Less

Coal from Newcastle: the way to level up
www.levelupnortheast.org
Not everyone sees levelling up in the same way as many in the North of England do, including its politicians and this website. While this site supports devolution as a way to optimise levelling up pri...