County Durham Labour has accused Conservatives of “failing the North East” following the publication of a report showing that almost half of jobs created in England since 2010 have been in the South East.
“A good life in all regions” by the Fabian Society released today (12 July), reveals the lack of job opportunities spread across the UK since 2010, with 47% of total jobs created in England going to London and the South East, with a tiny 2% created in the North East.
Cllr Carl Marshall, leader of County Durham Labour, said the Tory Government had “spent 13 years talking up the regions while consistently letting them down”, claiming Conservatives had spent years “squabbling like spoiled children” instead of focussing on UK Levelling Up.
The Fabian Society report, commissioned by the think-tank to explore the true scale of UK poverty and inequality, found that regional inequality is “without parallel in the developed world”.
It also showed regional inequality in productivity and household income are highest of any nation in the developed world, despite the Government making ‘Levelling Up’ a key priority.
Cllr Marshall said:
“The Conservatives are failing across the board, but they are particularly failing the North East. The Fabian Society report is another stark reminder of how little this Government cares about anywhere beyond the M25.
“Five Conservative Prime Ministers, each worse than the last, have run their mouths about ‘Levelling Up’ to address regional inequality and all five have delivered nothing. In fact, the North South divide has widened even further.
“We are governed by entitled, arrogant people adept at misleading the public. The Tories have spent 13 squabbling like spoiled children and feathering their mates’ nests instead of helping our region and our county realise its true potential.
“This report tells us what we already knew. Levelling Up was never anything more than a soundbite. It has failed – failed to deliver jobs they promised, failed to address disparity in household income and failed to ignite falling productivity. Like this Government and like the Conservative Party – Levelling Up is a failure.”
As well as shining a light on the scale and impact of UK regional equality, the report sets out practical solutions to drive social and economic growth in the UK’s regions.
County Durham Deputy Leader, Cllr Rob Crute added:
“Labour had put in place a blueprint for growth. A plan to create over 30,000 jobs in the coming years, build on the great strides we had made up to the 2021 election attracting inward investment to County Durham and enhance the economic prospects of our town and villages.
“The election result meant we never had the opportunity to deliver on that plan, but we still have it, updated and ready to put it into action. Make no mistake, Labour is the party of jobs, Labour is the party of economic growth and Labour is the party that will Level Up County Durham and wider North East.
“In County Hall like in Parliament, the Tories and those who prop them up are failing the people of County Durham. It’s time to clean house and allow Labour to clean up the mess they have made.”
The compilation of the report was supported by the City of London, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Trust for London and the Dartmouth Street Trust.
To read more about its findings and recommendations, visit: https://fabians.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FABJ10444-Commission-Report-230704-WEB.pdf