Justine Greening, former Conservative MP for Putney, has written that Boris Johnson wasted her original levelling up idea from the Department for Education, reducing it to little more than a towns fund. She argues that Andy Burnham, now Labour leader, has a better chance to deliver real change through his 'good growth in every postcode' vision.
Burnham's Vision vs. Past Failures
Greening notes that Keir Starmer's government hiked employers' national insurance, taxing opportunity and hitting early-career workers hardest. In contrast, Burnham's Makerfield byelection victory shows he understands the scale of change needed. However, patience will run out quickly if delivery falters.
Three Key Components for Success
First, 'place' and 'partnership' are critical. Whitehall's top-down approach cannot handle local complexities. Greening cites her DfE 'opportunity areas', where local leaders shaped unique priorities in partnership with NHS, local government, and businesses. Burnham's No 10 North proposal could disrupt Whitehall similarly, devolving power to communities.
Businesses as Opportunity Engines
Second, Burnham must unleash businesses as 'opportunity engines'. Greening highlights Yeovil-based helicopter maker Leonardo, which created thousands of skilled jobs through partnerships with local education. This symbiotic relationship kept manufacturing capacity in the UK. She urges Burnham to find such examples and measure impact to separate talkers from doers.
Reforming the Treasury
The hardest challenge is reforming the Treasury while keeping City confidence. Greening argues that 'good growth in every postcode' is a public finances strategy. The Treasury must value investment in 'lives on track' rather than minimizing costs of lives off track. It needs a prevention-first approach and better measurement of good growth. She criticizes lack of innovation in tax policy—business rates, corporate taxes, VAT—and notes the Treasury has not devolved its own power despite pushing others to do so.
Greening concludes that Burnham's vision presents a huge opportunity, but delivery is key: 'Good growth in every postcode? Bring it on; now it's time for delivery.'
