538:
66:
281:
441:
164:
102:
25:
637:
Some city councils in southern
England tend to swing politically between Labour and Conservative control, despite being located in a wider region dominated singularly by the Conservatives. Examples include
388:
Devolution of powers to local government. London has a directly elected mayor with control over public transport whilst most
Northern cities do not have mayors and have transport policies decided by the UK
576:
of northern
England (as also in Southern England) are still strongly supportive of Labour, even with the recent trends away from Labour in the north. This is shown in that Labour dominate
927:
1070:
369:
Indeed, results are highly dependent on the categories chosen for evaluation. As a generalisation, the following tend to indicate that there is some sort of north–south divide:
352:
The North–South divide is not an exact line, but one that can involve many stereotypes, presumptions and other impressions of the surrounding region relative to other regions.
423:
There is also controversy as to what constitutes the South given that it extends much farther longitudinally than the North of the country; some commentators have placed the
458:
181:
38:
397:
and affluent areas are located near most major cities north of the divide, and conversely there are pockets of large deprivation in the south. A 2004 report into wealth by
355:
The existence of the North–South divide is fiercely contested. Some sources claim it exists but also that it is even expanding. For example, a report in 2001 found that
792:
427:(in this case, Bristol, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall) into a region of its own because the poverty in some of these areas is often as widespread as it is in the North.
1012:
700:
to address the North–South divide as part of a broader objective. In
September 2021 the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government was renamed the
505:
228:
634:, had consistently provided a solid base for the Liberal Democrats, particularly in places which suffer from many of the same economic problems as the North.
477:
200:
701:
998:
697:
484:
207:
1123:
44:
1238:
491:
214:
112:
793:"Is there a north-south divide in social class inequalities in health in Great Britain? Cross sectional study using data from the 2001 census"
1290:
931:
473:
402:
196:
1295:
382:
Government spending per person on drivers of growth such as transport, infrastructure and R&D, which is far higher in the South-East.
626:, and many of the smaller parties, is generally more equally spread out across the UK. There is some criticism of this analysis in the
1270:
661:
tended to vote for the Labour Party. It is noteworthy the erosion of the Labour Party vote in the north and midlands began in the
127:
1275:
498:
221:
120:
1204:
670:
666:
662:
631:
562:
733:
716:
524:
265:
247:
145:
52:
420:
This has led some commentators to suggest that other divisions, such as class or ethnicity might be more important.
945:
738:
373:
Health conditions, which are generally seen as being worse in the north, though spending on health care is higher
462:
185:
409:
stated that whilst nine of the top ten most expensive places to live in
Britain were in the south of England,
728:
1156:
1285:
1130:
650:
1097:
693:
stance.However despite this, the Labour Party still won more seats than the conservatives in the North.
401:
also highlighted the anomaly that the wealthiest parliamentary constituency outside London was actually
1305:
1300:
1280:
599:
During the 1980s, Labour councils in the North were often openly defiant against the policies of the
1027:
972:
874:
639:
1178:
901:
712:
558:
451:
174:
116:
678:
623:
682:
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were won by the
Conservatives, many for the first time. Historically, constituencies in the
541:
Map (in equal-size constituencies) of the 2017 general election results showing the red wall
537:
573:
851:
8:
766:
585:
297:
1013:"Northern prosperity is national prosperity: A strategy for revitalising the UK economy"
366:
The same data have been interpreted otherwise to indicate only a very small difference.
79:
Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.
743:
589:
546:
360:
356:
817:
1212:
822:
747:
689:. This eroded vote was arguably capitalised upon by the Conservatives with their pro-
608:
600:
566:
812:
804:
658:
341:
313:
309:
674:
554:
708:, and a Levelling Up Taskforce was created to define the policy in more detail.
654:
616:
406:
337:
808:
280:
1264:
1216:
999:"Transport spend per head is £2,700 for London but £5 per head in North East"
756:
752:
317:
301:
289:
1052:
790:
847:
826:
705:
627:
550:
424:
394:
771:
376:
House prices, which are higher in the south, particularly the South-East.
577:
465: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
612:
604:
593:
581:
414:
410:
440:
163:
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333:
329:
321:
305:
761:
791:
Doran, Tim; Drever, Frances; Whitehead, Margaret (1 May 2004).
690:
1129:. Department for Work and Pensions. March 2006. Archived from
1071:"The 10 most expensive and least expensive cities in Britain"
325:
1239:"Michael Gove heads rebranded 'Department for Levelling Up'"
852:"North-south divide in social inequalities in Great Britain"
1179:"'Revolt on the Right', by Robert Ford and Matthew Goodwin"
1124:"Making a difference: Tackling poverty – a progress report"
685:
of the Labour-supporting working-class vote in their book,
1148:
1098:"Britain's class divide starts even before nursery school"
649:
In 2019, many traditionally Labour seats in the so-called
332:. In mainstream interpretation, the divide cuts through
316:, or sometimes between southern England and the rest of
1205:"Labour's lost working-class voters have gone for good"
16:
Economic and cultural differences in the United
Kingdom
702:
Department for
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
715:have been the most supported in Scotland since the
188:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
363:and Scotland had poorer health levels than South.
1230:
973:"North-south, east-west wealth divides in survey"
557:, is largely centre-right, and supportive of the
379:Earnings, which are higher in the south and east.
336:. The term has been widened to include the whole
1262:
875:"Wide life expectancy gap between rich and poor"
696:In 2021, the Conservative government launched a
545:In political terms, the South, and particularly
928:"Public sector finances: views from the inside"
53:Learn how and when to remove these messages
669:. However, the trend returned strongly in
665:, with a continual trend of decline until
561:, while the North was, at least until the
474:"North–South divide in the United Kingdom"
197:"North–South divide in the United Kingdom"
1202:
902:"Cancer atlas reveals north-south divide"
816:
525:Learn how and when to remove this message
266:Learn how and when to remove this message
248:Learn how and when to remove this message
146:Learn how and when to remove this message
536:
279:
126:Relevant discussion may be found on the
1025:
1263:
1236:
1176:
970:
899:
872:
1203:Bickerton, Chris (19 December 2019).
1154:
1095:
1015:. IPPR North, NEFC. 29 November 2012.
846:
565:, more supportive of the centre-left
1291:Social history of the United Kingdom
463:adding citations to reliable sources
434:
186:adding citations to reliable sources
157:
95:
59:
18:
1237:Cordon, Gavin (18 September 2021).
13:
1296:Unemployment in the United Kingdom
1053:"Wealth hotspots 'outside London'"
14:
1317:
1096:Ahmed, Kamal (10 November 2002).
971:Carvel, John (10 November 2005).
873:Carvel, John (11 November 2005).
717:2007 Scottish Parliament election
344:included as part of "the North".
34:This article has multiple issues.
673:. In 2014, political scientists
439:
413:was ninth on the list, ahead of
162:
100:
64:
23:
1271:Geography of the United Kingdom
1196:
1177:Stacey, Kiran (14 March 2014).
1170:
1116:
1089:
1063:
1045:
1019:
1001:. IPPR North. 19 December 2011.
450:needs additional citations for
173:needs additional citations for
42:or discuss these issues on the
1028:"The United Kingdom of London"
1026:Elliott, Larry (5 July 2004).
1005:
991:
964:
938:
920:
893:
866:
840:
784:
603:governments. Examples include
1:
1276:Economy of the United Kingdom
900:Meikle, James (6 July 2005).
734:North–South divide in England
1155:Clark, Dave (15 July 2011).
777:
347:
7:
797:BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.)
722:
430:
284:Northern England in England
10:
1322:
739:North–South divide (Wales)
681:documented the erosion by
854:. British Medical Journal
809:10.1136/bmj.328.7447.1043
704:under Secretary of State
73:This article needs to be
640:Southampton City Council
109:This article or section
713:Scottish National Party
542:
285:
663:2001 general election
644:Plymouth City Council
632:2015 general election
563:2019 general election
540:
283:
113:synthesis of material
459:improve this article
385:Political influence.
308:differences between
182:improve this article
1286:Economic inequality
803:(7447): 1043–1045.
698:Levelling up policy
687:Revolt on the Right
405:. A 2012 survey by
322:Midlands of England
744:Scottish Highlands
729:North–South divide
574:metropolitan areas
559:Conservative Party
547:South East England
543:
361:North West England
357:North East England
294:North–South divide
286:
123:to the main topic.
117:verifiably mention
111:possibly contains
1077:. 14 October 2012
946:"UK House Prices"
748:Scottish Lowlands
630:which, until the
624:Liberal Democrats
609:Militant tendency
535:
534:
527:
509:
276:
275:
268:
258:
257:
250:
232:
156:
155:
148:
94:
93:
57:
1313:
1306:Southern England
1301:Northern England
1281:Social phenomena
1255:
1254:
1252:
1250:
1243:Evening Standard
1234:
1228:
1227:
1225:
1223:
1200:
1194:
1193:
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1189:
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989:
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986:
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968:
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936:
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934:on 22 June 2011.
930:. Archived from
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863:
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659:Northern England
622:Support for the
530:
523:
519:
516:
510:
508:
467:
443:
435:
403:Sheffield Hallam
342:Northern Ireland
314:Northern England
310:Southern England
271:
264:
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166:
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144:
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49:
27:
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19:
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1201:
1197:
1187:
1185:
1183:Financial Times
1175:
1171:
1161:
1159:
1153:
1149:
1139:
1137:
1136:on 25 July 2006
1133:
1126:
1122:
1121:
1117:
1107:
1105:
1094:
1090:
1080:
1078:
1075:Daily Telegraph
1069:
1068:
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1051:
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1034:
1024:
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1010:
1006:
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992:
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926:
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921:
911:
909:
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894:
884:
882:
871:
867:
857:
855:
850:(3 July 2004).
848:Bland, J Martin
845:
841:
831:
829:
789:
785:
780:
767:Trap-bath split
725:
675:Matthew Goodwin
555:East of England
531:
520:
514:
511:
468:
466:
456:
444:
433:
350:
272:
261:
260:
259:
254:
243:
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191:
189:
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167:
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135:
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125:
115:which does not
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69:
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28:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1278:
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1257:
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1229:
1195:
1169:
1147:
1115:
1088:
1062:
1059:. 7 July 2004.
1044:
1018:
1004:
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937:
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892:
865:
839:
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781:
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776:
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774:
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764:
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741:
736:
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724:
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655:North Midlands
617:David Blunkett
533:
532:
447:
445:
438:
432:
429:
393:However, many
391:
390:
386:
383:
380:
377:
374:
349:
346:
338:United Kingdom
320:including the
296:refers to the
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273:
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32:
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22:
15:
9:
6:
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3:
2:
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783:
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763:
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757:South Britain
754:
753:North Britain
751:
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529:
526:
518:
507:
504:
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497:
493:
490:
486:
483:
479:
476: –
475:
471:
470:Find sources:
464:
460:
454:
453:
448:This section
446:
442:
437:
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428:
426:
421:
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412:
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404:
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399:Barclays Bank
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318:Great Britain
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290:Great Britain
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238:November 2016
230:
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209:
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199: –
198:
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193:Find sources:
187:
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171:This article
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35:
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1247:. Retrieved
1242:
1232:
1220:. Retrieved
1209:The Guardian
1208:
1198:
1186:. Retrieved
1182:
1172:
1160:. Retrieved
1150:
1138:. Retrieved
1131:the original
1118:
1106:. Retrieved
1102:The Observer
1101:
1091:
1079:. Retrieved
1074:
1065:
1056:
1047:
1035:. Retrieved
1032:The Guardian
1031:
1021:
1007:
993:
981:. Retrieved
977:The Guardian
976:
966:
954:. Retrieved
952:. 8 May 2006
949:
940:
932:the original
922:
910:. Retrieved
906:The Guardian
905:
895:
883:. Retrieved
879:The Guardian
878:
868:
856:. Retrieved
842:
830:. Retrieved
800:
796:
786:
710:
706:Michael Gove
695:
686:
648:
636:
628:West Country
621:
598:
571:
567:Labour Party
551:inner London
544:
521:
512:
502:
495:
488:
481:
469:
457:Please help
452:verification
449:
425:West Country
422:
419:
395:Middle class
392:
368:
365:
354:
351:
334:The Midlands
293:
287:
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244:
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211:
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180:Please help
175:verification
172:
142:
133:
110:
82:
74:
50:
43:
37:
36:Please help
33:
772:Solid North
679:Robert Ford
515:August 2021
389:government.
292:, the term
1265:Categories
1249:13 October
1081:8 December
607:under the
578:Manchester
485:newspapers
208:newspapers
39:improve it
1217:0261-3077
778:Footnotes
613:Sheffield
605:Liverpool
594:Sheffield
586:Newcastle
582:Liverpool
549:(outside
415:Salisbury
411:Edinburgh
348:Existence
306:political
128:talk page
85:July 2024
45:talk page
1245:. London
1104:. London
1057:BBC News
979:. London
950:BBC News
908:. London
881:. London
827:15117791
723:See also
651:red wall
601:Thatcher
431:Politics
330:Scotland
302:cultural
298:economic
136:May 2011
1162:15 July
1140:16 July
1108:16 July
1037:16 July
983:16 July
956:16 July
912:16 July
885:16 July
858:16 July
832:16 July
762:Lloegyr
499:scholar
407:Halifax
340:, with
222:scholar
75:updated
1222:7 June
1215:
1188:19 May
825:
818:403842
815:
691:Brexit
615:under
553:) and
501:
494:
487:
480:
472:
224:
217:
210:
203:
195:
121:relate
1134:(PDF)
1127:(PDF)
506:JSTOR
492:books
326:Wales
229:JSTOR
215:books
1251:2021
1224:2020
1213:ISSN
1190:2021
1164:2011
1157:"Mr"
1142:2006
1110:2006
1083:2016
1039:2006
985:2006
958:2006
914:2006
887:2006
860:2006
834:2006
823:PMID
755:and
746:and
711:The
683:UKIP
677:and
671:2019
667:2017
657:and
642:and
611:and
592:and
590:Hull
572:The
478:news
328:and
312:and
304:and
201:news
813:PMC
805:doi
801:328
461:by
288:In
184:by
119:or
1267::
1241:.
1211:.
1207:.
1181:.
1100:.
1073:.
1055:.
1030:.
975:.
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619:.
596:.
588:,
584:,
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417:.
359:,
324:,
300:,
48:.
1253:.
1226:.
1192:.
1166:.
1144:.
1112:.
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1041:.
987:.
960:.
916:.
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862:.
836:.
807::
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522:(
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513:(
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226:·
219:·
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178:.
149:)
143:(
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83:(
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55:)
51:(
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