Northern leaders condemn Brexit leaders over broken promises

Northern leaders have voiced strong criticism against Brexit proponents, accusing them of breaking promises regarding the equitable distribution of economic benefits across the United Kingdom. Recent figures reveal that London has received a disproportionately larger share of public expenditure compared to other UK regions, directly challenging the core tenets of the post-Brexit agenda.

A central argument during the campaign to leave the European Union was the promise to redistribute wealth and foster growth throughout the UK. Boris Johnson, who finalized the withdrawal agreement, had pledged increased investment, improved transportation, and higher living standards as part of the Conservative Party's post-Brexit strategy. However, analysis of HM Treasury data by The Independent indicates that individuals in London benefited from 26% more expenditure than the average UK resident in the 2024-25 fiscal year, despite billions allocated through "Levelling Up" grants.

This disparity has led northern leaders to assert that pledges remain unfulfilled and to question the allocation of "Levelling Up" funds. Wayne Jones, chairman of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, expressed a sense of grievance, stating, "I think a lot of people were misled in terms of what would happen post-Brexit and also what the EU was actually funding in grassroot levels across all sectors of industry." An academic observer noted that funds were frequently directed towards "social and cultural stuff" rather than initiatives aimed at stimulating economic growth.

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We absolutely feel aggrieved by what's happened.

The "Levelling Up" program, a cornerstone of Mr. Johnson's 2019 electoral mandate, aimed to address regional inequalities through 12 specific missions. These included narrowing the gap in living standards, boosting research and development outside London and the Southeast, and elevating local transport to London's standards. Significant funding pots, such as the £4.8 billion "Levelling Up" fund, the £3.2 billion Towns Fund, and the £3.5 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund, were established to achieve these goals.

Despite initial reports from the National Audit Office (NAO) highlighting departmental struggles with fund management and project delays, subsequent assessments indicated improvements. Nevertheless, the latest HM Treasury figures underscore a persistent imbalance. Excluding social protection payments like benefits and pensions, per capita spending in London reached £10,079 in 2024-25, significantly exceeding the UK average of £8,029. Regions like the East Midlands, Southwest, Southeast, and Yorkshire and the Humber received considerably less, indicating that the promised economic rebalancing has yet to materialize effectively.

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I think a lot of people were misled in terms of what would happen post-Brexit and also what the EU was actually funding in grassroot levels across all sectors of industry.