The north-south divide in the UK
It has long been recognised that there is a north/south divide in the UK.
Although there have been attempts to attract investment into the north, many businesses are choosing to set up in the south. This creates a large wealth divide and those living in the north of the country experience significantly different social and economic conditions from those living in the south.
The Centre for Cities is a charity that measures economic growth and change in 64 UK cities. In 2015, it found that for every 12 jobs created since 2004 in southern cities, only one was created in cities elsewhere. Cities like London and Milton Keynes in the south have seen a growth in the number of jobs available, whilst Blackpool and Hull in the north have seen a decline.
A divided nation?
| The north | The south | |
| Economic activity | Heavily dependent on the public sector. | Private sector dominant. |
| Incomes | Lower incomes, eg in 2018 the average household gross disposable income was £16,995 in the NE region.Benefits make up higher proportion of incomes. | Higher incomes, eg in 2018 the average household gross disposable income was £24,318 in London. |
| Unemployment | Higher unemployment, eg March 2022 - NE region = 5%. | Lower unemployment, eg SE region = 3.2%. |
| House prices | Lower house prices.Average prices in NE for May 2021 = £143,129. | Higher house prices.Average price in SE = £350,016. |
| Education | Pupils in the north are likelier to finish school with poorer grades than those in the south. | Pupils in the south are more likely to achieve top GCSE and A Level grades |
| Life expectancy | Lower life expectancy, eg life expectancy in the NE in 2020 = 77.6 | eg life expectancy in the SE in 2020 = 80.6. |
| Economic activity | |
| The north | Heavily dependent on the public sector. |
| The south | Private sector dominant. |
| Incomes | |
| The north | Lower incomes, eg in 2018 the average household gross disposable income was £16,995 in the NE region.Benefits make up higher proportion of incomes. |
| The south | Higher incomes, eg in 2018 the average household gross disposable income was £24,318 in London. |
| Unemployment | |
| The north | Higher unemployment, eg March 2022 - NE region = 5%. |
| The south | Lower unemployment, eg SE region = 3.2%. |
| House prices | |
| The north | Lower house prices.Average prices in NE for May 2021 = £143,129. |
| The south | Higher house prices.Average price in SE = £350,016. |
| Education | |
| The north | Pupils in the north are likelier to finish school with poorer grades than those in the south. |
| The south | Pupils in the south are more likely to achieve top GCSE and A Level grades |
| Life expectancy | |
| The north | Lower life expectancy, eg life expectancy in the NE in 2020 = 77.6 |
| The south | eg life expectancy in the SE in 2020 = 80.6. |
Strategies to resolve regional differences
Resolving regional differences is a difficult task. The government have agreed measures, which gives additional power and money to councils in the north. An example is the NTCA (North of Tyne Combined Authority.) The NTCA was established in North East England in 2018. It allows the area to make some of their own decisions about how to spend money. The government have agreed a devolution deal, where an investment fund worth £600m has been promised to the NTCA over the next 30 years.
Some people believe that professional jobs need to be created in the north. The popularity of universities such as Manchester and Leeds has encouraged professionals to settle in the north. The relocation of some businesses and organisations can also help. For example, the BBC built MediaCityUK in Manchester and moved many of its offices there in 2011. A recent report has suggested that MediaCityUK has helped Salford to become a “creative and digital cluster”. It also found that employment in Salford grew by 142% between 2010 and 2019. Since 2011, the has led to other companies locating close by, eg the Holiday Inn.
