Levelling up phrase to be erased, says minister

The new Labour government is replacing the words 'levelling up' with 'local government' in the department's name and ministerial titles, minister Jim McMahon has said.

Levelling up - a promise to reduce geographical inequality - was a key part of Boris Johnson's successful 2019 general election campaign.

When he came into power he changed the name of the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government, replacing 'local government' with 'levelling up'.

However, Mr McMahon told BBC Breakfast the phrase was "only ever a slogan" and was now being "firmly Tippex-ed out of the department".

"We are now the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government," he said.

"It is a reshaping of the department. It is a refocus, but frankly it is also just grown up politics."

He said the British public had "had enough of politicians making promises that don't follow through and don't make a material difference".

Mr McMahon, who was previously the leader of Oldham Council, said he was pleased the words local government were being added back to the department name saying people valued local government and "know it needs far more focus and attention".

Under the last government, the Levelling Up Fund was set up to distribute nearly £5bn to "shovel-ready" projects.

The North West of England received the most money overall, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber. In terms of funding per head of the population, Wales came out on top.

Under the fund, money was awarded to schemes aimed at boosting regeneration. Successful bids included Twycross Zoo in Bosworth, a swimming pool in Halifax and Rotherham town centre.

The fund attracted some criticism including from then-Conservative West Midlands Mayor Andy Street who said it was part of Whitehall's "broken begging bowl culture" and the money should be allocated by local-decision makers rather than civil servants in London.