Development Economist Returns to His Roots
- A recent town hall meeting in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, revealed a stark assessment of the UK government's "Levelling Up" agenda.
- Most proposals from residents centered on localized improvements - park renovations, library upgrades, and rubbish clearance.
- Collier's central argument wasn't about rejecting the funding,but about recalibrating expectations.He posited that the small amount of money wouldn't fundamentally alter lives, but the *process* of collective problem-solving...
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The Uncomfortable Truth About Levelling Up: Scunthorpe‘s Twenty Million
the Scene: A Town Hall Meeting in Scunthorpe
A recent town hall meeting in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, revealed a stark assessment of the UK government’s “Levelling Up” agenda. The meeting, intended to discuss the allocation of £20 million in national funding, took an unexpected turn when local leader, referred to as “Collier,” challenged the very premise of the exercise. He argued the funds were insufficient to enact meaningful change and urged residents to focus on long-term solutions for attracting skilled employment.
Most proposals from residents centered on localized improvements - park renovations, library upgrades, and rubbish clearance. While sensible, Collier dismissed these as insufficient, framing them as addressing symptoms rather than the root cause of Scunthorpe’s economic challenges. He pointedly contrasted the funding with the cost of living, stating the £20 million, spread over ten years, equates to roughly one cup of coffee per adult resident per month (at Scunthorpe prices).
The Core Argument: A Cup of Coffee Isn’t Transformation
Collier’s central argument wasn’t about rejecting the funding,but about recalibrating expectations.He posited that the small amount of money wouldn’t fundamentally alter lives, but the *process* of collective problem-solving could. He directly criticized the prevalent “crap jobs” available in the area, specifically citing warehouse positions at Amazon as examples of unfulfilling employment. This blunt assessment, while met with stunned laughter, underscored his call for more enterprising, future-proof job creation.
This sentiment reflects a broader critique of the Levelling Up agenda, which has been accused of being underfunded and lacking a clear strategic vision.A report by the Resolution foundation in found that the funding allocated to Levelling Up projects is considerably less than the investment needed to close the economic gap between regions.The report estimates that closing the productivity gap between London and other regions would require an additional £192 billion in investment.
The Role of “Collier”: Challenging the Status Quo
collier’s role, as described by Allen, is to articulate uncomfortable truths. He’s positioned as a catalyst for honest conversation, unafraid to challenge conventional thinking. This approach, while perhaps jarring, is seen as valuable becuase of the inherent proximity and potential biases of local stakeholders. His suggestion to begin clearing disused parts of the steelworks signals a focus on repurposing existing infrastructure for future economic development.
The Scunthorpe steelworks, once a major employer, has experienced important decline in recent decades. British Steel, the site’s operator, entered governance in