L E V E L L I N G U P
Some of the key findings from our research
1. Levelling up confusion
Despite general support for Levelling Up there is no clear understanding of what it means, but people do have an idea about how it should be defined.
Will Levelling Up meet voter priorities?
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2. Jobs. Jobs. Jobs. And a more attractive town centre
Jobs are widely seen as a way to make an area more appealing, but opinions on the ability for young people to secure jobs, let alone ‘good quality’ ones are currently downbeat.
3. An opportunity to revive pride in place
Residents of the North and Midlands want to feel pride in the areas they live in. However, in reality they have mixed feelings about the state of their towns.
4. Local politicians matter
Both local councils and mayors are seen as having a larger impact on local improvements than the national government. Local MPs are also seen as influential on investment.
5. Security is a priority
For those surveyed, a priority for government investment is public safety and anti-crime measures, with nearly half believing these measures are currently not fit for purpose.
6. Reversing the decline
A significant number of those surveyed see their area as having declined over recent years. There is also a connection between leave voters and a stronger negative perception of their local area.
7. Local transport matters
Those surveyed place a greater importance on local transport rather than regional or national links. Local roads and buses are much higher priorities than train services or links to London.
8. Bridging the divide
When looking at the results by markers such as age or voting/political views, some clear divides emerge.
