Today (Wednesday 2 February), the government’s long-awaited Levelling Up White Paper has been published. This paper is the government’s blueprint for spreading opportunity more evenly across the country.

At the last election the Tories promised people right across Britain that they would level up their communities.  But after 12 years in power, every area of the country is worse off than when they came to government.

Here in Sheffield, the government expect us to be grateful for an award of £13million against a backdrop of £215million worth of cuts.

If the government are serious about truly delivering for all, equally across the country, then they need to be serious about creating jobs so young people have choices and chances. They need to deliver thriving high streets, better public transport, affordable housing and safer communities so there are no ‘no go’ areas for anyone.

Labour has a plan to invest and create in new jobs and apprenticeships, support local businesses to thrive and provide funding for 100,000 new start-up businesses to grow. To truly level up we must invest in our people and businesses.