Budget 2021 reaction: levelling up needs to be ‘sustained and meaningful’

Reacting to Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget and Spending Review announcements, Mayor Rotheram praised the £710 million investment to transform transport networks across the region but said that true levelling up investment had to be “sustained and meaningful”.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Greater Manchester Metro Mayor, Andy Burnham, he said: “This budget didn’t do anything to reassure families hit by austerity.”

He said that Mr Sunak liked to point out “shiny projects” but warned the budget would only cast gloom for some, “particularly those left behind in the Liverpool City Region”.

Investing in skills

Mayor Rotheram described the government’s £3 billion investment in skills and education across the UK as a “drop in the ocean” to catch up from the disruption of the last 18 months.

In a separate statement he said: “We’re still awaiting full details but one thing is clear, to make sure we get bang for our buck, this funding should be delivered locally.

“In our region, we’ve shown time and again that we can make funding go further and make a much bigger difference than centrally controlled schemes. A one-size-fits-all approach simply does not work.

“Combined authorities like ours have a proven track record of delivering that value for money and are best placed to make sure that those training programmes are linked to local skills needs and shortages.

“There is a massive pot of unspent Apprenticeship Levy funding gathering dust in Whitehall that we could make much, much better use of in our region, training local people and helping them into well-paid secure jobs.”

Integrated rail plan for the north

Both mayors agreed the Chancellor had given the “clearest sign yet” the Government was buying into a London-style transport system across Manchester and Liverpool.

However they were not hopeful about plans for a proposed east-west Northern rail link connecting the city to High Speed 2 (HS2) and the Northern Powerhouse Rail project.

Mayor Rotheram said the plan had been “delayed time and time again” and warned that if the Government went for a “cheap and nasty option” it would take five years to complete and cause “major disruption”.

“We’d rather not have it than the Government destroy our economy,” he said.

Waterfront attraction

Sunak announced £2 million for a new Beatles attraction on the Liverpool waterfront as part of the budget.

Mayor Rotheram said the attraction will not be a museum but an “immersive experience”.

“We think the Beatles are a huge global attraction for the UK and should have something of significance for the Liverpool City Region (LCR),” he said.

He added that LCR would be working alongside Liverpool City Council to develop plans further and it would be something much more than “looking at old artefacts like John Lennon’s underpants in a glass case”.

Liverpool City Council said in an announcement the project had a working title of The Pool but made no mention of The Beatles.

The council described the transformative waterfront project as a “new destination dedicated to celebrating and creating music”.

The project has been championed by Liverpool-born Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries, who said: “What a result.

“Anybody who comes from Liverpool knows that this is already one of the best cities in the world – and now there’s even more reason for visitors to flood in, helping to create new jobs and opportunities for local people.

“If anything personifies levelling up, it’s the story of The Beatles.

“They came from humble backgrounds in Liverpool and went on to be the most important band in history. This funding will help unlock opportunities so that any child, no matter what corner of Liverpool they come from, or beyond, can become the next Lennon or McCartney.”

Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson said the announcement felt like a “real line in the sand moment” in the wake of the city losing its UNESCO World Heritage status.

She said: “Liverpool is known around the world for its historic waterfront, but it is really important that it doesn’t stand still and we continue to invest in it.

“This significant new pot of funding will make sure that our docks will continue to be a major draw for tourists and locals alike for many years to come.”

Mayor Anderson added that levelling up was not just about transport but “creativity, innovation and inspiration – three things Liverpool thrives on.”