Question and Answer Session: London's Economic Recovery and Business (Supplementary) [5]

Richard Burge (Chief Executive, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry):  Thank you, and thank you for the invitation to be here.  No, I am not sure it does.  I think the Levelling Up White Paper in its overall form says all the right things, but there are elements of it which direct support geographically.  My feeling is that levelling up is not about places, it is about people.  Now, of course, the accusation is that because I am based in London, of course I would say that.  However, we all know the data, we all know the evidence of the fact there are places in London which are just as deprived of services, of opportunity and of self‑esteem, which they need investment in, as any part of the UK.  I do not feel it does do that. 

On the other hand, London has to change the narrative about this.  We are seen out there as just complaining that we are not getting a slice of the pie, and I think we do need to change that.  I believe that London needs to come together, the Mayor’s Office, Paul Scully’s [MP, Minister for London] office and I are now trying to put together a group of people who can say, “OK, what is it that London is going to contribute to the Levelling Up debate nationally?  What are we going to do?  How are we going to deploy the skills available in London that are going to make levelling up possible?”.  Without London, levelling up will not occur anywhere in this kingdom, so I think we have the responsibility now in London to be part of that debate, part of the levelling up process, and in that context, say that there are parts of our city which are just as, if not more, deserving of this financial support as anywhere else. 

Joanne McCartney AM:  Yes, thank you.  That intraregional inequality is really important.  You issued a statement in response to the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper saying you were disappointed that the core of the White Paper’s proposals amounted to levelling down London.  What did the businesses that the LCCI represents want to see from the Levelling Up White Paper?

Richard Burge (Chief Executive, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry):  They wanted to see fairness and opportunity, and it seemed to be that the opportunity was being offered on a geographic basis rather than on a needs basis.  I think that was bluntly it. 

Joanne McCartney AM:  Thank you.  To the Deputy Mayor, if I may, Richard has made a good point that we need to change the narrative.  I know that the Mayor has been talking about how levelling up London levels up the rest of the country, and you cannot have recovery UK‑wide without recovery in London.  What did you and the Mayor of London want to see in the Levelling Up White Paper, and how are you lobbying to make that happen? 

Rajesh Agrawal (Deputy Mayor for Business):  As Richard said, there is levelling up to be done within London as well.  London is home to some of the most deprived communities in the country and the Mayor is determined that our capital play its role in helping to level up parts of the country that have been left behind for far too long.  We welcome the publication of this White Paper.  When London succeeds, our whole country benefits and vice versa, so that is why the Mayor wants to work with the Government, other regions and businesses to help level up London and every other town, city and region in the UK. 

It is important that if the Government is to succeed with its mission, it must recognise that levelling up the UK must not be about levelling down London and withholding the funding and investment our capital city desperately needs.  London has some of the most deprived communities in the country, and we need a fair share of the UKSPF.  If the Government truly wants to show its commitment to levelling up, it is also vital that it commits to properly funding the urban transport networks on which our towns and cities rely, and this includes TfL, which has been seriously affected by COVID and needs a fair, longer‑term funding deal.  London has less control over the tax we generate than any other global city, so if Ministers truly want to level up, they should give cities such as ours greater control over revenues to deliver economic growth and lasting social change for the benefit of the whole country. 

Joanne McCartney AM:  Thank you.  Thank you, Deputy Mayor, thank you, Chair.