Andrew Carter
Andrew Carter is chief executive of the Centre for Cities
Government must get education right to 'level up'
How the Government manages school catch-up policy is closely linked to the levelling up agenda, says Andrew Carter of Centre for Cities. And it needs to ensure it gets education right for both children and adults, he adds.
A post-election checklist for metro mayors
Chief executive of Centre for Cities Andrew Carter looks at what metro mayors should focus on after the elections - and the list of priorities includes housing delivery.
So when will Whitehall take a back seat?
Andrew Carter says that with eight mayors up for election, after a year of centrally-mandated COVID restrictions people have one clear message for the Government: ‘Give us the powers and resources to make the right decisions for our areas’.
We need to be careful that we don't 'level down'
If we are to build back better from COVID-19 then we can’t take our more prosperous cities for granted, argues chief executive of Centre for Cities Andrew Carter.
Chancellor must avoid a one-size-fits-all Treasury-led approach to recovery
The chancellor's recovery plan must give local leaders the powers and resources to rebuild their areas, says Andrew Carter.
Vibrant high streets need vibrant cities and towns
The fundamental cause of high street decline is simple: a lack of local spending power, says Andrew Carter. 'People are typically paid more in Cambridge so they have more money to spend, both online and offline, than people in Burnley do'.
Don't defund, side-line or worse still abolish metro-mayors
While it may not realise it now, the Government needs powerful and prominent metro mayors if it is to have any hope of delivering its levelling up agenda, says Andrew Carter.
No sign of workers returning to city centres
The latest data from Centre for Cities' High Streets Recovery Tracker shows no movement at all in workers returning to city centres since late June, and we should not assume this will increase over the autumn, says Andrew Carter.
Helping city centres thrive post-COVID
Concern for our high streets has been exacerbated by the pandemic - but this time it is big cities that are suffering more, says Andrew Carter. If we care about city centres, its down to transport authorities can help
The Government must act now to stop coronavirus 'levelling down'
Chief executive of Centre for Cities Andrew Carter warns that failure to act could create a situation where the Government oversees a levelling down of the country – not a levelling up.
Struggling places will fall even further behind without targeted policies
Every single city and town in the UK will need a localised plan that reflects their circumstances to help them rebuild their economies, says Andrew Carter.
Without a place-focused economic response, pre-coronavirus inequalities will become even more entrenched
In places that were often struggling prior to COVID-19 such as Barnsley or Stoke just 20% of people could work from home, writes Andrew Carter; the virus will have a bigger and longer-term impact in areas where the economy has now ground to a halt.
Failure to act on tackling air pollution would be deadly
With more than one in 19 deaths in UK cities and large towns caused by toxic air, the UK Government needs to take action urgently, says Andrew Carter. There are also steps that city leaders can take to improve the air of their constituents, he adds.
The metro mayor elections will indicate how much politics has realigned
The collapse of Labour's Red Wall should give the Conservative mayors of Tees Valley and the West Midlands cause for optimism, says Andrew Carter - but the most interesting mayoral election to watch could prove to be in Greater Manchester.
Empower cities to help people back into work
Most commentators agree that, despite Britain’s economic uncertainty, the labour market remains robust. But go below these national headlines and explore the labour market in different cities across the country and a more complicated picture emerges.
Tackle high street decline the right way
Research by Centre for Cities highlights the problem with improving high streets' cultural amenities without dealing with the economic fundamentals, according to Andrew Carter.
Grounds to be optimistic - but let's not get carried away
Andrew Carter says there are reasons to be optimistic about an urban policy renaissance under this Government - but the most significant intervention Boris Johnson could do for cities is to agree a deal with the EU.
Brexit should not be an excuse for avoiding domestic issues
The next PM should increase council funding, build homes where they are needed and improve urban transport, according to Andrew Carter.
We need a deal with EU that minimises all export barriers
The Centre for Cities' latest report highlights that an industry-by-industry approach to trade is unlikely to work for cities, says Andrew Carter.
Give cities the discretion to manage their finances
Andrew Carter says the spending cuts borne by cities for a decade need to end - but they need more control over how they raise and spend money locally if they are to build a sustainable long-term financial future.
