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Hi, I'm Anouche, and on today's bonus episode of the New Statement Podcast in partnership with Lloyd's Bank, we're talking about leveling up.

The UK has some of the highest levels of regional inequality in Europe.

Is it really possible to make the UK a more regionalised economy?

And what would it take to actually make leveling up a reality?

To discuss this, I'm delighted to be joined by two special guests.

Hannah Essex is co-executive director of the British Chambers of Commerce,

the national body representing local business networks across the country,

and Mark Burton, head of UK regions at Lloyd's Bank.

Thanks both for joining me.

Good to be here.

Pleasure.

So let's start with the big question, first of all, if that's OK.

Why does the UK have such a problem with regional inequality in the first place?

...