Clarke says levelling up is ‘fundamental’, while preparing ground for cuts

The levelling up secretary, Simon Clarke, says the government is committed to the levelling up project, while preparing the ground for the a new age of austerity. Britain has lived in a “fool’s paradise” for too long and must reduce public spending to help to fund the government’s £45bn worth of tax cuts, Clarke said at the weekend. The key ally of Liz Truss criticised the “very large welfare state” and said Whitehall departments would have to “trim the fat”. But Clarke insists that Truss remains as committed to levelling up as Boris Johnson. “It’s absolutely fundamental to why the PM’s in politics,” he said – but aspects of the system need to change. “The fact the green belt is larger today than it was when Margaret Thatcher came to power is an extraordinary state of affairs,” he said. He added that the planning system should most fundamentally be about popular consent and should create incentives for residents to support development. The Times (£) and The Times (£)