How do you solve the North/South divide?
Discussion
This issue has gripped academics/policy-makers/politicians ever since the Victorian Era. In short, most efforts have proved futile. I guess once the UAE-OPEC and Russian contingent get bored of London and have finished purchasing all freeholds in prime London, they might venture north to observe some different scenery. Perhaps they might bequeath some capital to the former industrial north. Salmond is probably hoping they make it to the Highlands.
Gargamel said:
local stock exchanges.,, similarvrules to aim, but with a real local focus
Not a new ideaIf it was needed again the market would have done it.
The North still has a huge amount of its economy based around agriculture - this industry has been on it's knees for years.
Gas and a return to some manufacturing will help.
jbi said:
The public sector jobs capital of the UK is the lovely little market town of Morpeth in Northumberland.
Almost 90% of local economy is funded by the public sector both directly and indirectly.
Makes me sick.
Almost 90% of local economy is funded by the public sector both directly and indirectly.
Makes me sick.
We're going on holiday to Morpeth in a couple of weeks. I am doing my bit to stimulate their economy.
Transport links and general infrastructure, plus proximity to London, Europe and international gateways are the big draw in the SE I reckon. London's position as the capital of the country does no harm either.
And once the virtuous circle starts, it's hard to break it.
There are also many oop North that wouldn't want the "divide" broken. It's not that crowded, property prices are half reasonable and generally it's more relaxed.
Taxation changes and infrastructure improvements might help, but it's a big gamble. And despite coming from Sheffield (but having lived and worked in the South East or abroad since the age of 23), I'm not convinced the benefits would be worth the risk/cost.
As for Northerners being allowed into the SE to do menial work, who on Earth would indigenous South Easterners get to do the jobs that take a bit of intelligence to do then FFS? You'd have to import proper foreigners whilst you lot lick your windows scoffing jellied eels
And once the virtuous circle starts, it's hard to break it.
There are also many oop North that wouldn't want the "divide" broken. It's not that crowded, property prices are half reasonable and generally it's more relaxed.
Taxation changes and infrastructure improvements might help, but it's a big gamble. And despite coming from Sheffield (but having lived and worked in the South East or abroad since the age of 23), I'm not convinced the benefits would be worth the risk/cost.
As for Northerners being allowed into the SE to do menial work, who on Earth would indigenous South Easterners get to do the jobs that take a bit of intelligence to do then FFS? You'd have to import proper foreigners whilst you lot lick your windows scoffing jellied eels
johnfm said:
One would think that industries like, say, software etc would be able to be based anywhere. So why the South East?
Because the people who live in the South East react to anything that isn't on their doorstep as if it's in hicksville. It's ironic that some of the most parochial people in the country think that the word only applies to people outside London.Please Note That since 1985 when i was an adult, I have visited the 'South' about 20 times, and London 5
So my solution
Make the Trains faster, cheaper, more often. So we can commute to London.
I recently saw an advert for a contract job in London paying twice my normal hourly rate.
I could leave the house at 5am drive 30 miles to Runcorn on a Monday, get the 1st Train to Euston, stay with my nephew, and get the train home on Friday afternoon. I might.
So my solution
Make the Trains faster, cheaper, more often. So we can commute to London.
I recently saw an advert for a contract job in London paying twice my normal hourly rate.
I could leave the house at 5am drive 30 miles to Runcorn on a Monday, get the 1st Train to Euston, stay with my nephew, and get the train home on Friday afternoon. I might.
HarryW said:
Move a lot of government jobs and agencies there, relocate the bbc......hang on a minutes didn't someone recently do that...
And scrap paying the london weighting allowance to encourage govt employees to be priced out of the market, hopfully as services fail & become poorer people will want to leave London of their own accord (a bit like school catchment areas in reverse) 
It will be worse when the govt enforces regional pay.
JB! said:
But still, s
t Internet.
What happens with my Carreer will decide where I buy methinks.
Get the village to build their own 20mps - £8 per montht Internet.What happens with my Carreer will decide where I buy methinks.
Speeds around here are fast enough. My mate in Leeds has 50 mbs, another in Liverpool can get 80 mbs.
O/T - What is s
t internet? What are people now getting in London?jbi said:
There are upsides to living in the North...
All of which screams "Attention Affluent Southerners: The North has an abundance of Natural Beauty, but sadly is peopled by lice-ridden peasant bandits from whom the only defence is to build a Great Big Feck-Off Castle and to keep several hundred gallons of oil constantly in the boil for purpose of pouring from the battlements onto the aforementioned peasants should they mistakenly fall under the misapprehension they have the required minerals to come and have a go."Worked for the Normans. I note the influx of Fwench into London as a result of the current pogrom by the new Froggie leader against anyone who has a work ethic that doesn't involve burning sheep on a motorway. Mark my words, they'll be building castles all over Northumbria before the year is out.
UF said:
Get the village to build their own 20mps - £8 per month
Speeds around here are fast enough. My mate in Leeds has 50 mbs, another in Liverpool can get 80 mbs.
O/T - What is st internet? What are people now getting in London?
Not getting full 3G for starters!Speeds around here are fast enough. My mate in Leeds has 50 mbs, another in Liverpool can get 80 mbs.
O/T - What is s
t internet? What are people now getting in London?I looked at houses in S
horpe the other day. Impressive value for money, but then you'd have to live in Shorpe?Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff