Pippa crerar and daily mail columnist sarah vine. Hello and welcome. At the 2019 election, borisjohnson captured a slew of northern constituencies in england with the promise to � level up� the country. The government said it would rebalance the economy, share the prosperity of london, to address long Standing Underinvestment in the regions. And now we have the policy, a Bill Published Today by the Levelling Up Secretary michael gove which, finally, spells out how they aim to achieve it. This white paper lays out a long Term Economic and plan to make opportunity more equal. It shifts power and opportunity towards the north end midlands, scotland, wales and Northern Ireland. It guarantees increase investment in overlooked and undervalued communities. In research and development, in education and skills, and transport and broadband, in urban parks and decent homes, and grassroots ports and local culture and in fighting crime and tackling anti social behavior. It gives local communities the tools to tackle rogue landlords, dilapidated high streets and neglected green spaces. It demonstrates that is peoples government is keeping faith with the working people of this country by allowing them to take back control of their lives, the communities and their futures and i commend this statement to the house. Crucially what the bill does is set down in law, how the government will measure success. They have established 12 � missions� which mr gove says will underpin how future spending decisions are made. Power devolved to metro mayors, will be a large part of the plan. Among the key iniatives, the mission to improve education and skills, by significantly increasing standards in 55 areas across england. By 2030, theres a target to narrow the gap for people across the uk on pay, employment and crucially their life expectancy. Among other things there is a commitment to skills and life long learning, Innovation Centres that will receive more funding for research and development and a pledge to improve public transport outside london, the pledges on spending in this white paper are rather limited, reflecting the fiscal one of the criticisms towards leveling up is that it meant everything and nothing. Did the white paper address finally what it is . , white paper address finally what it is . ,. , white paper address finally what it is . ,. , i. Is . That was the beauty of the slo. An, is . That was the beauty of the slogan, leveling is . That was the beauty of the slogan, leveling up is . That was the beauty of the slogan, Leveling Up In is . That was the beauty of the slogan, Leveling Up In terms i is . That was the beauty of the | slogan, Leveling Up In terms of is . That was the beauty of the slogan, Leveling Up In terms of the election because the government was able to promise this big life changing experience for people. Ultimately what that meant two people meant Different Things up and down the country. I think today with the white papers, the first serious attempt that weve seen of the government two years into start to put flesh on the bones of what that might mean. So thats a white paper so its hard to be a set in the Direction Travel Map than the nitty gritty. This certainly wasnt much concrete in there but to me what it showed overall is the extreme inequality that does exist in our country. Much of it sort of structural in terms of imbalance, economic and the rest and the rest of the country. Some of it much more detailed in increasing areas that got worse over the last decade or so. I think its a good starting point, i think theres lots to be discussed. I think politically it can be very difficult for the government because people have this expectation that things will change by the next election. Some lent their vote to borisjohnson on the basis that they will receive direct tangible improvements to their communities and the quality of life for that and two years isnt very long to achieve that. Not least because its a fairly amorphous document with lots of noble aims but very little tangible detail about how theyre actually going to get there. ,. , how theyre actually going to get there. ,. ,. , there. Yeah. The concern is, sarah, there. Yeah. The concern is, sarah, the reason there. Yeah. The concern is, sarah, the reason it there. Yeah. The concern is, sarah, the reason it was there. Yeah. The concern is, sarah, the reason it was delayed there. Yeah. The concern is, sarah, the reason it was delayed so there. Yeah. The concern is, sarah, the reason it was delayed so long. There. Yeah. The concern is, sarah, the reason it was delayed so long is that michael gove spent a lot of time trying to get more money out of the treasury for the bold aims as peppa says. But does he have the money to fulfil the ambition he set out today . I money to fulfil the ambition he set out toda . , � ~. , money to fulfil the ambition he set outtoda . ~. , , money to fulfil the ambition he set outtoda . ~. , � , out today . I dont know because its a longterm out today . I dont know because its a longterm ambition. Out today . I dont know because its a longterm ambition. This out today . I dont know because its a longterm ambition. This is out today . I dont know because its a longterm ambition. This is the i a long term ambition. This is the whole a long term ambition. This is the whole point a long term ambition. This is the whole point about the white paper to be a vision whole point about the white paper to be a vision. I think you need a vision, be a vision. I think you need a vision, you be a vision. I think you need a vision, you need long term strategy, medium term strategy and short term strategy medium term strategy and short term strategy. And this is a long, long term strategy. And this is a long, long term strategy. Its very unlikely that it term strategy. Its very unlikely that it will term strategy. Its very unlikely that it will be a conservative government see it through. Who knows what will government see it through. Who knows what will happen in 2030. Money, again what will happen in 2030. Money, again very what will happen in 2030. Money, again very hard to nail down figures at this again very hard to nail down figures at this stage because you just dont know at this stage because you just dont know how at this stage because you just dont know how much these are just to get end up know how much these are just to get end up costing. Weve seen with a choice end up costing. Weve seen with a choice to end up costing. Weve seen with a choice to how these things can become choice to how these things can become enormous in price. What the government become enormous in price. What the government of trying to do this to say took. Government of trying to do this to say look, we have long term vision for this say look, we have long term vision for this country. That is something that has for this country. That is something that has been lacking in politics for quite that has been lacking in politics for quite a long time. Everybody talks for quite a long time. Everybody talks about the immediate things we can do. Talks about the immediate things we can do. The talks about the immediate things we can do, the quick fixes and actually politics can do, the quick fixes and actually politics is can do, the quick fixes and actually politics is not about quick fixes its about politics is not about quick fixes its about infrastructure and laying down its about infrastructure and laying down good, Solid Foundation that will take down good, Solid Foundation that will take the country into the future will take the country into the future in will take the country into the future in a positive way. I do think for a future in a positive way. I do think for a long future in a positive way. I do think for a long time theres been a huge inequality for a long time theres been a huge inequality between the self in the north inequality between the self in the north. London seems to be a black hole that north. London seems to be a black hole that sucks everything into it money, hole that sucks everything into it money, people, etc. It is time that we tried money, people, etc. It is time that we tried to money, people, etc. It is time that we tried to move those things the rest of we tried to move those things the rest of the we tried to move those things the rest of the country so that everybody can enjoy the same prosperity that people in the south and the prosperity that people in the south and the southwestern easternjoy. Its and the southwestern easternjoy. Its a and the southwestern easternjoy. Its a good and the southwestern easternjoy. Its a good point that governments come and go. Is the plan to develop the Decision Making to the local level, to give more money to metro males, to make the uk less centralised, it is one of the most centralised, it is one of the most centralised countries in the oecd. Does that take away some of that short term is him at the centre and handed to the regions in the hope that actually the plan can be seen through . I that actually the plan can be seen throu~h . ~. ,. ,. , through . I think he to all of this and whether through . I think he to all of this and whether it through . I think he to all of this and whether it ends through . I think he to all of this and whether it ends up through . I think he to all of this and whether it ends up being i through . I think he to all of this i and whether it ends up being able through . I think he to all of this and whether it ends up being able to be transmitted back translated from vision to reality on the ground is the body in on local leaders was up whether thats leaders that exist at that moment of it is a series of different code but not political complexions and or local leaders or the new plan set out in the white paper for mayors, elected the new plan set out in the White Paperfor mayors, Elected County mayors in areas right across the uk giving them lending plea london style powers. That powers can be crucial. It doesnt matter how much a change from the top, if you dont have the support of the people who are actually going to be delivering its just like it happened. Are actually going to be delivering itsjust like it happened. That are actually going to be delivering its just like it happened. That i think also extends to getting the buy in from cross party opposition. As sarah rightly says, if this is a ten year project, which it looks like it is, at least a ten year project, lots of these promises as big as they are due to come in too course until the next decade. That has to have, given the political uncertainties we go through as a country and has to have the support of the opposition. Because there will come of time where some of these measures put in place but its a different government. If they dont support them now theyve got absolutely no requirement, no incentive for them to stick with the plans that the conservatives put in place. Michael gove is very good at reaching cross party amongst the top team at the moment he is generally seen at West Minister is one of the more consensual politicians. Youd like to think that hes got big ideas that can reach across the house and if anybody can do it he can do it. On the labour side, this is absolutely her terrain. And i think that they will be a good match in terms of thrashing this out. I hope all sides recognise there are very serious structural inequalities that exist in our Country Economic and social. Which metric you measure them by. And if they are genuine about wanting to achieve they have to Work Together to do that. Some on the labour side to Work Together to do that. Some on the labour side who to Work Together to do that. Some on the labour side who have to Work Together to do that. Some on the labour side who have welcomed L The Labour Side who have welcomed the labour side who have welcomed the governments plans. Tracy brabin the labour mayor of West Yorkshuire said there was a lot to be pleased about. But like others expressed concerns about the funding. Jim oneill, vice chairman of the Northern Powerhouse partnership said as a framework and as means to help the Government Measure its performance it was quite impressive. But lisa nandy said the treasury has written off more money in fraud this past few weeks, than it has handed to michael gove. What this is really about, its about getting good jobs back into towns that have lost them over the last 40 years. So that too many young people have to get out to get on. So we just dont have the Spending Power and the local powers to sustain our high streets and our town centres and support our local businesses. Thats why weve said that Spending Money on Green Investment would be our priority, we pledge 28 billion a year every year in the next parliament. In order to ensure that those Coastal Industrial towns that within living memory powered the world can do so again. And young people can stay and get those apprenticeships, get those jobs and make a contribution like their parents and grandparents did. Well one project that seeks to do just that, is the eden project north in morecambe. They have just had the green light to begin construction on a project similar to the one in cornwall. The aim is to build these mussel shaped pavillions on a derelict area in morecambe bay, which they hope will attract further investment to the region. Im joined by eden projects ceo, dave harland. Would this have got off the ground without the governments renewed focus on the north . I without the governments renewed focus on the north . Focus on the north . I think what haens focus on the north . I think what happens is focus on the north . I think what happens is theres focus on the north . I think what happens is theres been focus on the north . I think what happens is theres been this focus on the north . I think what| happens is theres been this idea focus on the north . I think what i happens is theres been this idea of leveling out that its been quite useful for the funding. Leveling out that its been quite usefulfor the funding. I come leveling out that its been quite useful for the funding. I come from cornwall originally, a whole county affected by deprivation issues and when i was growing up down here its a play she will likely to leave. I think its a positive step that the government is recognising the inequalities that are notjust in the southwest but in the northwest in somewhere like morecambe. We think there is a wealth of talent and potential in the regions and they dont necessarily need hand outs, what they need his investment to ensure her very much that the growth and prosperity can be shared across generations. Aha, be shared across generations. A project like eating will do that. Im really interested in that. If you look at Something LikeSilicon Valley or the city of london, they grew organically, they were almost an accident. They grew in a group. Can you put something shiny like the eden project north in morecambe and recreate that growth and how does that create social growth, socials stimulation, how does it stimulate growth in society aside from the manufacturing that goes into the project . Manufacturing that goes into the roect . ,. ,. , manufacturing that goes into the roect . ,. , project . This is a longterm vision and its been project . This is a longterm vision and its been said project . This is a longterm vision and its been said already project . This is a longterm vision and its been said already these i project . This is a longterm vision | and its been said already these are long term plans. We want to invest into the northwest and the north for the long term. They think in doing what we do which is we buy at least 80 of services in the region, we invest into those supply chains, weve already started a 25 year Education Plan that morecambe can scale up youngsters so theyve got the right skills for the 21st century. Weve already invested in health in a project of the bay which is about subscribing to hundred percent to eight people already benefiting from us. As this goes on its a brilliant example so environmental, social and Economic Investment coming together to really move in area forward. And im not claiming that all that we will act as a catalyst to investors around us which is whats happening cornwall and why we had an impact. You would counter the and why we had an impact. You would counter the point and why we had an impact. You would counter the point that and why we had an impact. You would counter the point that the and why we had an impact. You would counter the point that the institute i counter the point that the institute for physical studies made today that the governments failed to learn lessons about other projects out of work was that he would say actually, we have learned the lessons in cornwall and we can apply that to other regions in the country . I other regions in the country . I think theres been Lessons Learned in cornwall. I think eden is a good example where the government put it right. Weve had subsidies and european funds. I think its been difficult over the last couple years is to identify the root to fundraing. Ithink is to identify the root to fundraing. I think what today does is it sets out at least a root towards the pots of money going to be available for investment across departments. One of the problems with projects like eden is we touch education, health, tourism and culture and arts and so on and its very difficult to find a champion. I think what this paper does is it suggests all the way through to funds of prosperity, to general leveling up funds. Funds of prosperity, to general leveling up funds. There is no car arkin leveling up funds. There is no car Parking Spaces leveling up