Levelled Up or Left Behind? Fostering Community Power and Social Inclusion in Low-Income Coastal Communities

Abstract

Regional inequalities in the UK have received increased policy recognition in recent years. Certain regions, such as those that have undergone significant industrial decline and have poor physical infrastructure, have been highlighted as being vulnerable to regional inequalities and subsequent exclusion (MacKinnon, et al., 2022), constructed from a policy
perspective as being “left behind” (Local Trust, 2019). Coastal communities are amongst regions highlighted as particularly vulnerable to such inequalities (Whitty, 2021), many of
whom feel removed from local and national places of power, something I will present as political peripherality. This peripherality hinders opportunities for political participation, a
central dimension of social inclusion (Levitas et al., 2007), and thus deprives communities of opportunities to thrive. ‘Community power’ is a concept proposed to reduce spatial
inequalities, although no accepted definition exists. The new Labour government speaks of “powering up Britain,” which includes a new English Devolution Bill and new powers for
metro mayors and combined authorities (Labour, 2024). However, the role of community power in this agenda is unclear. Despite stating a commitment to empowering communities, the role of citizens and the third sector in this agenda is yet to be determined.