Lewis's Story

Lewis is 28 and lives in Tipton and Wednesbury, one of England's most deprived constituencies in the West Midlands. He's trained in transport infrastructure but can't find stable work despite the region's desperate need for better connections. The Department for Transport's own analysis shows per-capita spending here is a fraction of London and the South East. Engineers and construction workers exist locally, many unemployed. Steel and concrete are available. What blocked investment was HM Treasury's doctrine that public spending must be rationed as though government were a household saving for an extension. This episode explores how Westminster's funding choices trap skilled workers while communities remain cut off. The Blocked Britain podcast is produced by Ginger Dog Media.