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It’s not so grim up north. George Osborne should try it some time It’s not so grim up north. George Osborne should try it some time
(6 months later)
The government has admitted that 97% of the staff driving George Osborne’s “northern powerhouse” work in London, which for anyone unfamiliar with British geography is in the south-east of the country. This is probably why the northern powerhouse has failed to materialise, despite the chancellor’s promise several years ago.The government has admitted that 97% of the staff driving George Osborne’s “northern powerhouse” work in London, which for anyone unfamiliar with British geography is in the south-east of the country. This is probably why the northern powerhouse has failed to materialise, despite the chancellor’s promise several years ago.
Related: 97% of top officials at 'northern powerhouse' department work in London
The north of England isn’t getting any more powerful. In fact, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 10 of the 12 poorest towns in the country are in the north. The first southern location to make the list is in 24th place.The north of England isn’t getting any more powerful. In fact, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 10 of the 12 poorest towns in the country are in the north. The first southern location to make the list is in 24th place.
The problem of the north/south divide is self-evident – especially to northerners. The north feels about as far away from Westminster as you could possibly imagine. For young voters especially, it’s hard to think that Cameron et al would ever face the problems they do, or know how to tackle them. No issues that my generation in the north care about seem to permeate to Westminster; no solutions go back up the M1. And having major governmental offices for devolution in London, rather than the place where the issue is most prominent, only emphasises the point.The problem of the north/south divide is self-evident – especially to northerners. The north feels about as far away from Westminster as you could possibly imagine. For young voters especially, it’s hard to think that Cameron et al would ever face the problems they do, or know how to tackle them. No issues that my generation in the north care about seem to permeate to Westminster; no solutions go back up the M1. And having major governmental offices for devolution in London, rather than the place where the issue is most prominent, only emphasises the point.
It is the same with shutting the largest office for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills outside London. It doesn’t exactly inspire faith in Osborne reinventing the north, does it? People in the north, especially Generation Y, are more alienated by the current situation than ever before.It is the same with shutting the largest office for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills outside London. It doesn’t exactly inspire faith in Osborne reinventing the north, does it? People in the north, especially Generation Y, are more alienated by the current situation than ever before.
The job market is terrible. Town centres are dominated by boarded-up shops. There’s a distinct lack of both emotional and financial investment in anywhere further up than Leicester. Industrial towns died when the coal mines shut and never got the shock of life they needed to come back. People still live there, they still exist. Just forgotten about.The job market is terrible. Town centres are dominated by boarded-up shops. There’s a distinct lack of both emotional and financial investment in anywhere further up than Leicester. Industrial towns died when the coal mines shut and never got the shock of life they needed to come back. People still live there, they still exist. Just forgotten about.
It is all quite demoralising for any young person trying to start a life, get a job, think about a future. A message rings out loud and clear that Westminster doesn’t care about the north, or the people in it.It is all quite demoralising for any young person trying to start a life, get a job, think about a future. A message rings out loud and clear that Westminster doesn’t care about the north, or the people in it.
Let’s make no bones about it, the north is treated as a bit of a joke. All on benefits with lots of kids, eating chips and gravy and training up kestrels to pass the time. Northern accents are also an indicator of lesser intelligence, obviously. These stereotypes are pervasive and mean that northern youth are always going to be at a disadvantage.Let’s make no bones about it, the north is treated as a bit of a joke. All on benefits with lots of kids, eating chips and gravy and training up kestrels to pass the time. Northern accents are also an indicator of lesser intelligence, obviously. These stereotypes are pervasive and mean that northern youth are always going to be at a disadvantage.
Class is obviously a factor, as are government cuts, but it isn’t all to do with money. Young people in the north are always going to face a tougher battle when everything is so London-centric and there aren’t many comparable opportunities in Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool or Manchester.Class is obviously a factor, as are government cuts, but it isn’t all to do with money. Young people in the north are always going to face a tougher battle when everything is so London-centric and there aren’t many comparable opportunities in Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool or Manchester.
Work experience for jobs in the media, politics, finance ... none of these can be snapped up by those needing opportunities in the north because it takes time to get to London and it costs a fortune to stay down south for a week or two. A teen living in Essex, or greater London, or the home counties doesn’t face quite the same hurdles.Work experience for jobs in the media, politics, finance ... none of these can be snapped up by those needing opportunities in the north because it takes time to get to London and it costs a fortune to stay down south for a week or two. A teen living in Essex, or greater London, or the home counties doesn’t face quite the same hurdles.
People still live in northern industrial towns – they still exist. Just forgotten aboutPeople still live in northern industrial towns – they still exist. Just forgotten about
It isn’t just the geographical difference either. It wasn’t that long ago that news came out of a “poshness test” blocking working-class applicants from top jobs. So those of you with a strong Barnsley accent had better get elocution lessons.It isn’t just the geographical difference either. It wasn’t that long ago that news came out of a “poshness test” blocking working-class applicants from top jobs. So those of you with a strong Barnsley accent had better get elocution lessons.
Just last month, statistics from the Sutton Trust confirmed that the privately educated elite were still taking the top jobs. Not to say that there isn’t a privately educated elite in the north – it’s just not on the same scale as in the south. Until someone, somewhere, starts realising that anything north of the Watford Gap isn’t barren wasteland, nothing will change because this government isn’t really trying to change anything.Just last month, statistics from the Sutton Trust confirmed that the privately educated elite were still taking the top jobs. Not to say that there isn’t a privately educated elite in the north – it’s just not on the same scale as in the south. Until someone, somewhere, starts realising that anything north of the Watford Gap isn’t barren wasteland, nothing will change because this government isn’t really trying to change anything.
The north of England is a brilliant place and each of the cities has something different to offer from London. But if the government keeps pulling resources from the north, relocating offices and paying it no attention, the problems are bound to continue. Osborne is kicking the very generation of people who could do his job for him and create the northern powerhouse.The north of England is a brilliant place and each of the cities has something different to offer from London. But if the government keeps pulling resources from the north, relocating offices and paying it no attention, the problems are bound to continue. Osborne is kicking the very generation of people who could do his job for him and create the northern powerhouse.