Local London should be given a subregional growth deal to help eastern boroughs ‘level up’ and deliver their full potential, a report has argued today.
The report, published by Localis for Local London, argues the subregion has more in common with ‘left behind’ parts of the country than the rest of the capital.
It highlights these boroughs have some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country, with lower economic productivity per head than the Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region or West Midlands combined authorities.
The report - Local London and Levelling Up – the role of East and North East London in local, regional and national growth - argues this means the subregion should be eligible for the same money from the US Shared Prosperity Fund as was earmarked under previous EU funding support.
It said a growth deal would give the subregion’s leaders the power to ‘masterplan’ an ambitious vision for the area.
Cllr Darren Rodwell, chairman of Local London and leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said: 'It’s a fact that East London was classified as a ‘less developed’ region by the EU – alongside others more traditionally regarded as deprived and left-behind in the north and west – and earmarked for more than £1bn in cohesion funding between 2021-7 to help us catch up. That’s now lost.
'As this report shows, our situation has been made even worse by the pandemic, and we risk falling even further behind without bold and imaginative thinking as well as funding. We need a long-term deal for growth and the ability to determine our own future, and we call on the secretary of state to enable that.'
Cllr Rodwell told The MJ the report provides a compelling evidence base makes for levelling up support.
