BRADFORD Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe, has said the district is the place with the "greatest potential" for Levelling Up but called on Government for more detail about its plans.

Councillor Hinchcliffe was reacting following today's announcement of the Levelling Up White Paper, which set out the plans the Government has to close the gap between the best and worst performing areas, redistributing jobs and opportunities, and improving people's life outcomes.

The leader of Bradford Council has said more detail about the investment available is needed for the Government to "show how seriously" it's taking its agenda.

Minister Michael Gove said it will "address historic injustices" that have existed across the country for decades.

Cllr Hinchcliffe said the district should be prioritised as an area for levelling up if it is to back its words with action and really improve people's lives.

She said: “Bradford district is a prime location for Levelling Up.

"We are a young, entrepreneurial and globally connected district, ripe with potential for growth, but this is all subject to the right level of national investment to match our ambition.

"For the country to truly level up, it depends on Bradford levelling up.

"We really need more detail from the Government about what the Levelling Up White Paper means in practice, on the ground.

"If there is no investment available with the plan then you have to question how seriously the Government are taking the Levelling Up agenda.

“An independent study by the net zero housebuilder Etopia Homes, and peer reviewed by the engineering consultancy experts WSP, found Bradford has the greatest potential for levelling up of the 34 largest cities outside of London.

"This proves Bradford is a credible place for Government to invest which will deliver double digit growth and deliver a strong return on any public sector investment.

“After today’s announcement it’s still unclear what the process is for a place to be a Levelling Up area.

"If there is an application process then obviously we’ll be applying. We have the plans, we have the people and we have the sites.

"We’re confident our plans can bring real benefits for our communities and businesses.

"We will hold government to account to deliver on its promises to the people and businesses of our district and the nation.”

Michael Gove said the 12 levelling up missions set out will "drive real change in towns and cities across the UK", with Prime Minister Boris Johnson adding it is the "most comprehensive, ambitious plan of its kind that this country has ever seen".

However, Labour has slammed the plans as offering nothing new, calling it a "shopping list of recycled policies and fiddled figures" and said it followed a decade of Conservative Government "turbocharging the decline of our communities”.