A NEW in depth study has revealed that Bradford’s three inner-city constituencies are among the top 20 most in need of “levelling up” across England.

The report, created by former a former Treasury economist, looked at six socio-economic factors contributing to an area’s poor standard of living.

Bradford West came third on the list of areas most in need of levelling up, behind only Blackpool South and Middlesbrough.

Bradford East ranked seventh, and Bradford South placed 16th on the list which looked a levels of crime, deprivation, health, spending poor, reliance on benefits (financial dependency) and the number of empty commercial properties to calculate a Levelling Up Index.

Bradford West scored poorly on each of the indicators, with its ‘financial dependency’ figure more than double the national average, and a 78 per cent higher level of store vacancies than the average in England and Wales.

It was also found Bradford West has a business rates burden 65 per cent higher than the national average.

The report recommends reducing business rates in these areas to encourage growth and investment.

Chris Walker, author of the report, said: “This analysis shows which areas of the country need levelling up.

“It also shows how far a single policy change could deliver massive benefits to these communities: reducing business rates.

“Most other taxes are linked to prosperity and are progressive, but in the case of business rates that system has broken down.

“Communities around the UK simply need a level playing field. Making the changes we suggest in this report would support our most at-risk high streets and help hundreds of communities to thrive.”

Naz Shah, MP for Bradford West, said: "Only this week in Parliament I lobbied the government to provide targeted funding for Bradford West.

"We have the highest rate of rising child deprivation and unemployment in Yorkshire & Humber. Even more shocking is Bradford West Ranks 4th in the country for rising child deprivation.

"Coupled with the added effects that Covid-19 will have on businesses, employees and the future generations of Bradford.

"It is no surprise that Bradford West has been identified as the third constituency most in need of levelling up. The Prime Minister and this government came into office with slogans such as levelling up the north.

"The question they will have to answer is whether they will support those constituencies most in need, like Bradford West or will they play politics with the lives of those who have already faced the brunt of their decade long austerity.

"In Parliament, I outlined to the Minister, that though they may not have the political will to support Bradford by providing additional funding, I hope they have the moral will to do so.

"Bradford has a young population, entrepreneurs, and a growing tech sector that provides the potential for this city to prosper. With the challenges presented by the virus and the clear data showing the need for additional support, it is sad that these calls to the government are falling on deaf ears."

Bradford South MP Judith Cummins added: "I have long argued for more investment into Bradford South and our wider region.

"I strongly support a new high-speed railway linking northern cities including a city centre stop in Bradford, as well as greater investment in West Yorkshire Police, local schools, and public services. I will continue to fight for a fair share for Bradford South.

"Unfortunately, despite the Conservative's rhetoric of 'levelling up' it is clear they do not care about Bradford or the North. Their latest coronavirus economic support package will not be enough to save jobs in our area.

"The Government's handling of the pandemic will likely lead to more regional inequality not less unless they commit to a fair package of financial support and real investment for places like Bradford South."

Bradford East MP Imran Hussain said: “This report sadly tells us nothing that we don’t already know and throughout my time as an MP, I have been campaigning for the Government to take the deprivation that we face in Bradford East seriously.

"A decade of Tory austerity and underinvestment at the hands of this Government has held back people in Bradford and contributed to shameful levels of deprivation and child poverty that hurt us all.

“Despite the promises from the Prime Minister, we have seen very little of his ‘levelling up agenda’ in Bradford or of an end to London-centric funding and decision making.

"The Coronavirus crisis has also shown just how unwilling the Government truly is to take action to address this, with a refusal just this week to support my calls to support jobs and businesses under threat in Bradford.

“Off the back of yet another damning report, the Government have to give Bradford the tools that we need and the massive investment that we need for job creation, for improving living standards, for tackling health inequalities, for boosting educational outcomes and for delivering affordable housing, and I will continue to press Ministers for action to meet the challenges that we face.”