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Since the 2019 general election, 'levelling up' has been the government\u2019s go-to slogan. The Queen\u2019s Speech set out an ambition to "level up opportunities across all parts of the UK". The chancellor has previously unveiled a 'levelling up' fund. The prime minister has recently appointed a 'levelling up' adviser. And the promise to 'level up' featured heavily during the recent Hartlepool by-election.\n\nBut what does 'levelling up' actually mean? How does the government intend to turn this slogan into reality? How can voters judge the success \u2013 or not \u2013 of the 'levelling up' agenda at the next election?\n\nThe Institute for Government was delighted to bring together an expert panel to discuss past efforts at distributing investment, creating job opportunities and increasing productivity, and to assess whether Boris Johnson\u2019s \u2018levelling up\u2019 agenda will see the Conservatives hold on to electoral gains in the so-called \u2018red wall\u2019 constituencies.\n\nOn the panel were:\n\nJohn Godfrey, Corporate Affairs Director at Legal & General and former Head of Policy at No.10 (2016\u201317)\nLord Mandelson, Chairman of Global Counsel and former European Commissioner for Trade and MP for Hartlepool (1992\u20132004)\nGiles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and former Special Adviser to Theresa May\nRachel Wolf, Founding Partner at Public First and former Education and Innovation Adviser to David Cameron\n\nThe event was chaired by Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government.