Justine Greening argues Boris Johnson squandered the levelling‑up opportunity and urges Andy Burnham’s ‘good growth’ plan to deliver real regional prosperity
Executive summary: Justine Greening published a Guardian op‑ed criticising Boris Johnson’s levelling‑up record and endorsing Andy Burnham’s ‘good growth’ approach to regional development. The article highlights the continuing struggle to convert regional equity promises into concrete investment and policy outcomes, a debate that could shape Labour’s electoral platform and public spending priorities.
Who is involved: Justine Greening, Boris Johnson, Andy Burnham, Labour Party
Likely next: Burnham is expected to release a detailed good growth framework later in July, Parliamentary committees may scrutinise devolution funding proposals, Upcoming local elections could serve as a gauge of voter support for regional growth policies
Justine Greening’s op‑ed contends that the previous levelling‑up agenda under Boris Johnson failed to translate promises into tangible outcomes, while she presents Andy Burnham’s newly articulated ‘good growth’ vision as a more viable path to shared prosperity. She stresses that the core challenge remains the effective devolution of power and resources to enable measurable improvements in housing, infrastructure and local economies across the UK. The piece contributes to an ongoing debate about the future of regional policy, especially as Labour considers its leadership and policy direction.
Timeline
- — Boris Johnson wasted my levelling up idea. Here’s how Burnham and his ‘good growth’ plan can do better | Justine Greening (The Guardian — Business)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Burnham to publish a detailed good growth framework later in July
- Parliamentary committee to examine devolution funding proposals
- Local elections in May 2027 may serve as a referendum on regional growth policies
Sectors affected
- regional development
- housing
- infrastructure
- public finance
Regulatory implications
- Greater fiscal devolution to combined authorities
- Targeted housing subsidies for deprived areas
Historical parallels
- The original Levelling Up agenda launched by Boris Johnson in 2021
- The Northern Powerhouse initiative (2014)
- New Deal‑style regional investment programmes in the 1930s
Key entities
Sources
- Boris Johnson wasted my levelling up idea. Here’s how Burnham and his ‘good growth’ plan can do better | Justine Greening — The Guardian — Business
Related cases
- Local unrest in Piddington challenges Burnham's migration policy and political stability
- UK launches National Centre for Information Defence to counter Russian disinformation and deepfakes
- UK fashion industry urges Andy Burnham to shift NHS and Ministry of Defence uniform procurement to domestic manufacturers to safeguard British manufacturing jobs
- Unions urge Prime Minister Burnham to tax bank surcharges to subsidize energy bills for households
- Train drivers’ 3.6% pay rise after strike threat signals growing labor cost pressures in UK rail
- Andy Burnham’s proposal allows private investors to retain ownership in England’s water sector while promising greater public control