Prime minister appoints ‘levelling up’ adviser

Boris Johnson has appointed a backbench Tory MP as his new ‘levelling up’ adviser, as the government announces a new white paper on the policy later this year.

Harborough MP Neil O’Brien has been appointed as the prime minister’s adviser on the controversial flagship policy.

Prior to becoming the Conservative MP for Harborough in 2017, Mr O’Brien worked in Downing Street, where he was an adviser to the prime minister on the economy.

‘Levelling up has been a real passion of mine for many years, and I’m incredibly excited by the prime minister’s agenda,’ said Mr O’Brien.

‘After such a challenging year, there has never been a better time to unite and level up the country. It’s absolutely crucial that we bring opportunity to every single part of the UK by making sure our spending, tax, investment and regeneration priorities bring about meaningful change.’

In a statement, the government said it will publish a Levelling Up white paper later this year, articulating ‘how bold new policy interventions will improve opportunity and boost livelihoods across the country as we recover from the pandemic’.

The white paper – which will be led by the Prime Minister – will focus on challenges including improving living standards, growing the private sector and increasing and spreading opportunity, according to the statement.

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