South Yorkshire Mayor criticises government’s levelling up approach

The Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard, has criticised the government’s approach to levelling up, saying it is failing and costing the people of the region.

Only recently having started in the role, Coppard said that levelling up has become competitive instead of being a cooperation between councils across the country.

He said: “Rather than a sensible, grown up, conversation about the needs of our community, we are forced into competing with other, equally deserving parts of our country for pots of money that are too small to begin with. You can’t level up through competition.

“The contrast between the Government’s levelling up rhetoric and the reality across our communities is stark. This Tory government are seemingly intent on doing little more than gaslighting us.”

On the subject, Coppard talked about the transport crisis in the north of England, with rail disruption and cuts to South Yorkshire's bus network meaning the area is struggling to keep up with demand.

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