As the Conservative party convenes for its annual conference in Manchester, it faces a profound identity crisis with no clear pathway forward. The party's inability to craft a compelling and distinctive vision for voters is stark, particularly given the squandered potential of a key agenda that once promised to redefine social and economic policy in the UK: levelling up. What was initially a phrase imbued with hopeful meaning—equality of opportunity—has devolved into little more than superficial projects, lacking strategic depth or transformative impact.

The term "levelling up" originated within the Department for Education as a rallying call for social mobility, crafted by former education secretary Justine Greening. It was meant to signify extending opportunities to those who have been historically underserved, without detracting from existing ones. The goal was clear: to achieve equality of opportunity by recognising that while talent is evenly distributed across the country, access to opportunities is not. Education and economic policy were seen as the twin pillars essential to realising this vision, aiming to invest in individuals’ potential and link them seamlessly to opportunities for advancement.

However, under Boris Johnson’s leadership, this clear social mobility agenda became obscured. Instead of focused policy efforts, levelling up was reduced to funding local projects such as hanging baskets and redesigning roundabouts, as administered by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. This superficial approach culminated in a white paper nearly three years after Johnson took office, which critics say merely rebranded existing policies without injecting new life or direction. Vital areas including education reform, higher education as a conduit for working-class social mobility, and broader economic and tax policies were neglected. The government even dismantled place-based initiatives like the Department for Education’s “opportunity areas,” which research had shown could increase optimism among young people in disadvantaged communities by up to 18 percentage points. This decision was widely viewed as a political misstep that alienated crucial voter bases.

With the Conservatives’ failure to deliver on their levelling up promises, social mobility remains deeply entrenched as a national challenge. Labour, now in government, has moved away from levelling up language, instead emphasising “breaking down the barriers to opportunity.” This reflects a shift toward a more locally tailored approach to governance, as indicated by renaming related departments to focus on local government rather than levelling up. Meanwhile, parties like Reform UK use terms such as “reindustrialisation” to evoke hope in post-industrial communities, highlighting a recurring theme across UK politics: different phrases that circle back to the enduring struggle for equitable opportunities.

While each party offers its rhetoric, the crucial question remains: who will develop a comprehensive and actionable agenda to improve social mobility genuinely? As Greening and commentators observe, fair opportunities are essential not only for individual success but also for national prosperity. The challenge is delivering consistent, funded policies that connect education, business, and economic reform in a concerted drive towards equality of opportunity.

The Conservative experience underscores the pitfalls of political rhetoric unbacked by substantive action. Efforts to stimulate aspiration and optimism have measurable impacts on communities, yet these were undermined by political miscalculations and short-termism. As Labour and others seek to avoid similar pitfalls, the bar for success in addressing Britain’s weak social mobility is clear. It requires not just promises but sustained investment and systemic reform to create real pathways for those who have been left behind.

In an environment where young people struggle to find stable career starts and workers find their efforts fail to translate into economic security, effective social mobility policy is arguably the most pressing agenda for any government. The party that truly champions and enacts equality of opportunity will ultimately claim not just electoral victory but the chance to reshape the country's future.

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Source: Noah Wire Services