Is It Really So Grim Up North?
The recent report by a right wing think tank which suggested that those who live in the north of England should relocate down south has created an almighty row. The so called experts in the think tank believe that investment in many areas of the north is a waste of tax payers money and it should be directed at the more vibrant and prosperous areas of southern England. Do they really have a point? Is life really so grim up north?
When you consider places such as Newcastle and Manchester, which have totally reinvented themselves in recent times, this claim that money is wasted is really a slur on the good people of the north. Manchester now has a thriving financial business centre (as does Newcastle) and the City of Newcastle has also been in the top ten list of the best entertainment venues around the world on a number of occasions.
Let us not forget the fact that the people of the north actually pay taxes as well and are entitled to some kind of inward investment of public money. There is a suggestion that those involved in this controversial think tank are also missing the point with systems such as the internet and the fact that a company based in the north of England will likely have a cost base a fraction of a similar company based down south. So no, life up north is not too grim but this report will do nothing for north south relations!
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