United Kingdom
Senior Research Fellow @IPPRNorth
Before January draws to a close, the Government will have faced the biggest test of its flagship levelling up agenda to date. The highly-anticipated levelling up white paper represents a watershed moment for the Government - a chance for it to deliver a plan worthy of the rhetoric, and meet the promises made to the country in 2019 to raise prosperity and close regional divides.
Over the weekend, many London based commentators packed their bags and returned to the capital following their short stay in Hartlepool. Some have claimed that this by-election represents a fundamental shift in our national politics, or have misunderstood and misrepresented the north of England with
The "Everyone In" initiative, implemented during the first wave of the Covid-19 virus, took tens of thousands of rough sleepers off the streets and helped them start the transition into more secure and long-term accommodation. In the space of just 72 hours, this ambitious programme took thousands of people off the streets.
THE pandemic has made 2020 a year like no other and will result in lasting social and economic consequences. It is crucial that 2021 is a year of renewal in the North and that people begin to see real change.
Yet, for many, this horror has become a reality. While the nation was being told to stay at home to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus, thousands of people across Yorkshire were unable to find a safe place to call home.
Jessica* is angry - and she's not the only one. In a few days' time, the temporary ban on evictions from rented housing, introduced soon after the coronavirus crisis began, will be lifted; and tens of thousands of renters still struggling with falling earnings face the risk that they may lose their homes.
The popular documentary series Manctopia has drawn public attention to the challenges that northern cities like Manchester face. On the one hand, the construction of new homes creates jobs and stimulates the city's economy. The luxury housing developments being built in the city also help attract more affluent residents, who are able to spend their money in the local economy.
This crisis bears a heavy cost as it pushes young people and low-income earners out of the places they call home. Not only does this raise the question about whether rural communities can survive and thrive without a future generation, it also bears a significant human cost, with increasing numbers of people being pushed into rural homelessness.
Bringing together top businesses, policymakers, educational organisations, unions, and campaigners to jointly explore how to bridge the skills gap faced by the net zero transition and maximise the job opportunities that will come with a 'green recovery'.