"Similar perceptions of decline are now the norm across the nation. In postwar Britain, high streets became the thriving hubs of a more affluent society and a source of local identity and pride. But almost 13,000 shops closed in 2024 an attrition rate of around 37 a day, which particularly affected the north of England, the Midlands and deprived coastal areas."
"The emergence of superstores and retail parks, and the postpandemic boom in internet shopping, has hollowed out the centres of towns and left a gaping sense of loss. For Sir Keir Starmer and Labour, this is a major political problem as well as an economic one. Research by the University of Southampton found that improving high streets was near the top of most voters' priorities, behind only healthcare and reducing crime."
"The failure of governments to offer more than stickingplaster solutions is fuelling resentment in places where faith in politics and the promises of mainstream parties is at rock bottom. Recent polling found that 62% of voters who are considering backing Reform UK believe their local area is in decline. Ahead of the byelection in Gorton and Denton later this month, reports that Sir Keir has identified this as a defining issue are therefore welcome."
High streets across Britain have undergone steep decline, with almost 13,000 shop closures in 2024 (about 37 per day), concentrated in the north, the Midlands and deprived coastal areas. The rise of superstores, retail parks and post-pandemic online shopping has hollowed town centres and eroded local identity and pride. Improving high streets ranks highly in voter priorities, behind healthcare and reducing crime, and perceived local decline fuels support for insurgent parties. Government responses have been limited to short-term fixes, deepening resentment and exposing shortcomings of prior levelling-up efforts, which identified geographic discontent but delivered uneven, politicised funding.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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