Re: The UK's economy becomes more unbalanced : Thu Mar 14, 2013 7:44 pm  

Dally wrote:

These are stark statistics, with the economy becoming more reliant on London even with the despair in the City and banking crisis. What can be done to make Northerners more productive? What might be the longer-term ramifications forthe UK if this imbalance is not addressed? Is the UK sustainable if the regions do not become more productive? Do the statistics show that capitalism works whereas socialism (reliance on the State for jobs) does not?

It is noticeable that London where there is a greater degree of multiculturalism and higher proportion of immigrants is the most productive part of the economy and the northern regions where large parts are still ethnically homogenous are lagging behind so I think the solution would be increased immigration and to make sure diversity policies are pursued more thoroughly in the regions.

Re: The UK's economy becomes more unbalanced : Thu Mar 14, 2013 8:01 pm  

JerryChicken wrote:

It worked in the 1970s and 80s - take a look at the Don and Dearne valleys in South Yorks to see a huge swathe of the countryside decimated by pit closures being redeveloped by EU funding for roads and underground infrastructure and then the businesses being encouraged by low or no business rates and subsidised rents or construction costs, they don't all stay when the subsidies stop but a good percentage of them have done, and they wouldn't be there at all if not for some imaginative thinking and a hand-in-pocket attitude by the tail end of the last Tory government (after they had caused the armegeddon in the first place).

Well it clearly hasn't worked that well otherwise the stats. would be someehat different.

Furthermore, are these high profile regeneration projects politically inspired and often wasteful? In you example, The Don Valley stadium was one such project - closed now (last I heard) due to tack of cash to maintain and run it. City of Manchster stadium was supposed to be a focal point to regenerate a run a run down area. Last time I visited (granted a couple of years ago) the surrounding area did not look regenerated!

Re: The UK's economy becomes more unbalanced : Thu Mar 14, 2013 8:44 pm  

Dally wrote:

Well it clearly hasn't worked that well otherwise the stats. would be someehat different.

Furthermore, are these high profile regeneration projects politically inspired and often wasteful? In you example, The Don Valley stadium was one such project - closed now (last I heard) due to tack of cash to maintain and run it. City of Manchster stadium was supposed to be a focal point to regenerate a run a run down area. Last time I visited (granted a couple of years ago) the surrounding area did not look regenerated!

It takes more than a string of industrial estates to regenerate an area, but its a start, and yes they were politically inspired and a good job someone in Thatchers government saw sense or The Peoples Republic of South Yorkshire would have been a reality these past thirty years.

Truth is there is now a string of hi-tech businesses where once stood pits, truth is that they don't need a workforce of thousands to keep them running and certainly don't need a workforce of thousands of clerical workers to keep them running, they took the skilled workers from those lost industries and taught them new skills, which is what we should be focusing upon as a country.

Sports facilities never sparked a regeneration of anything.

Re: The UK's economy becomes more unbalanced : Thu Mar 14, 2013 8:47 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote:

It is noticeable that London where there is a greater degree of multiculturalism and higher proportion of immigrants is the most productive part of the economy and the northern regions where large parts are still ethnically homogenous are lagging behind so I think the solution would be increased immigration and to make sure diversity policies are pursued more thoroughly in the regions.

Part of Manchester is the most diverse. So your point is?

Re: The UK's economy becomes more unbalanced : Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:13 pm  

Some interesting stuff in the Manchester Evening news, showing the in balance in public spending favouring London http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ed-1744883 Greater Manchester has only £16 million a year set aside for the 4 years commencing 2015 in Transport Infrastructure. London has £2.7 billion for each of the four years. More will be spent on a cycle route within London than all forms of transport within Greater Manchester over the same period.

Some interesting stuff in the Manchester Evening news, showing the in balance in public spending favouring London http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ed-1744883 Greater Manchester has only £16 million a year set aside for the 4 years commencing 2015 in Transport Infrastructure. London has £2.7 billion for each of the four years. More will be spent on a cycle route within London than all forms of transport within Greater Manchester over the same period.

Re: The UK's economy becomes more unbalanced : Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:26 pm  

The Chair Maker wrote: Some interesting stuff in the Manchester Evening news, showing the in balance in public spending favouring London http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ed-1744883 Greater Manchester has only £16 million a year set aside for the 4 years commencing 2015 in Transport Infrastructure. London has £2.7 billion for each of the four years. More will be spent on a cycle route within London than all forms of transport within Greater Manchester over the same period. It's clearly more sensible to spend much more on transport for an overcrowded global city that drives the country's economy than in a provincial ares that already has relatively good transport links and a superb motorway network.

The Chair Maker wrote: Some interesting stuff in the Manchester Evening news, showing the in balance in public spending favouring London http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ed-1744883 Greater Manchester has only £16 million a year set aside for the 4 years commencing 2015 in Transport Infrastructure. London has £2.7 billion for each of the four years. More will be spent on a cycle route within London than all forms of transport within Greater Manchester over the same period. It's clearly more sensible to spend much more on transport for an overcrowded global city that drives the country's economy than in a provincial ares that already has relatively good transport links and a superb motorway network.

Re: The UK's economy becomes more unbalanced : Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:27 pm  

The Chair Maker wrote: Some interesting stuff in the Manchester Evening news, showing the in balance in public spending favouring London http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ed-1744883 Greater Manchester has only £16 million a year set aside for the 4 years commencing 2015 in Transport Infrastructure. London has £2.7 billion for each of the four years. More will be spent on a cycle route within London than all forms of transport within Greater Manchester over the same period. It's clearly more sensible to spend much more on transport for an overcrowded global city that drives the country's economy than in a provincial ares that already has relatively good transport links and a superb motorway network.

The Chair Maker wrote: Some interesting stuff in the Manchester Evening news, showing the in balance in public spending favouring London http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ed-1744883 Greater Manchester has only £16 million a year set aside for the 4 years commencing 2015 in Transport Infrastructure. London has £2.7 billion for each of the four years. More will be spent on a cycle route within London than all forms of transport within Greater Manchester over the same period. It's clearly more sensible to spend much more on transport for an overcrowded global city that drives the country's economy than in a provincial ares that already has relatively good transport links and a superb motorway network.

Re: The UK's economy becomes more unbalanced : Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:50 pm  

Dally wrote: Part of Manchester is the most diverse. So your point is? No it isn't. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171776_290558.pdf • Across the English regions and Wales, London was the most ethnically diverse area, with the highest proportion of minority ethnic groups and the lowest proportion of the White ethnic group at 59.8 per cent, in 2011. The West Midlands was the second most diverse with White ethnic group at 79.2 per cent. London had above average proportions for most minority ethnic groups including African (7.0 per cent), Indian (6.6 per cent), and Caribbean (4.2 per cent). It also had the highest incidence of Any Other White at 12.6 per cent. • While White British was the majority ethnic group in London, it had the lowest percentage of White British across England and Wales at 44.9 per cent. • The West Midlands had a higher than average percentage of minority ethnic groups: Pakistani at 4.1 per cent, Indian at 3.9 per cent and Caribbean at 1.5 per cent. It also had a lower than average White ethnic group at 82.7 per cent and White British at 79.2 per cent. Across the English regions and Wales, Wales was the least diverse area, followed by the South West and North East. Over 95 per cent of the population identified as White in these areas. • Within the White ethnic group, the North East had the highest percentage of White British at 93.6 per cent, followed by Wales at 93.2 per cent and the South West at 91.8 per cent. • Wales had the lowest percentage of minority ethnic groups, with the majority at 1 per cent and below (excluding Any Other White at 1.8 per cent). Also see here on the index of ethnic diversity: http://data.london.gov.uk/datastorefile ... ndices.pdf In national rankings of ethnic diversity indices 26 of the top 30 local authorities are London boroughs, with four outside London (Slough, Luton, Leicester and Birmingham). Now let me guess, you read the Daily Mail article about Manchester a few weeks back that said "Cheetham Hill Road is one of Britain's most diverse streets."

Dally wrote: Part of Manchester is the most diverse. So your point is? No it isn't. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171776_290558.pdf • Across the English regions and Wales, London was the most ethnically diverse area, with the highest proportion of minority ethnic groups and the lowest proportion of the White ethnic group at 59.8 per cent, in 2011. The West Midlands was the second most diverse with White ethnic group at 79.2 per cent. London had above average proportions for most minority ethnic groups including African (7.0 per cent), Indian (6.6 per cent), and Caribbean (4.2 per cent). It also had the highest incidence of Any Other White at 12.6 per cent. • While White British was the majority ethnic group in London, it had the lowest percentage of White British across England and Wales at 44.9 per cent. • The West Midlands had a higher than average percentage of minority ethnic groups: Pakistani at 4.1 per cent, Indian at 3.9 per cent and Caribbean at 1.5 per cent. It also had a lower than average White ethnic group at 82.7 per cent and White British at 79.2 per cent. Across the English regions and Wales, Wales was the least diverse area, followed by the South West and North East. Over 95 per cent of the population identified as White in these areas. • Within the White ethnic group, the North East had the highest percentage of White British at 93.6 per cent, followed by Wales at 93.2 per cent and the South West at 91.8 per cent. • Wales had the lowest percentage of minority ethnic groups, with the majority at 1 per cent and below (excluding Any Other White at 1.8 per cent). Also see here on the index of ethnic diversity: http://data.london.gov.uk/datastorefile ... ndices.pdf In national rankings of ethnic diversity indices 26 of the top 30 local authorities are London boroughs, with four outside London (Slough, Luton, Leicester and Birmingham). Now let me guess, you read the Daily Mail article about Manchester a few weeks back that said "Cheetham Hill Road is one of Britain's most diverse streets."

Re: The UK's economy becomes more unbalanced : Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:57 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote: No it isn't. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171776_290558.pdf Also see here on the index of ethnic diversity: http://data.london.gov.uk/datastorefile ... ndices.pdf Now let me guess, you read the Daily Mail article about Manchester a few weeks back that said "Cheetham Hill Road is one of Britain's most diverse streets." On your basis, Leicester shouldd be an economic powerhouse and Bradford in the top division too.

sally cinnamon wrote: No it isn't. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171776_290558.pdf Also see here on the index of ethnic diversity: http://data.london.gov.uk/datastorefile ... ndices.pdf Now let me guess, you read the Daily Mail article about Manchester a few weeks back that said "Cheetham Hill Road is one of Britain's most diverse streets." On your basis, Leicester shouldd be an economic powerhouse and Bradford in the top division too.

Re: The UK's economy becomes more unbalanced : Thu Mar 14, 2013 10:19 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote: Now let me guess, you read the Daily Mail article about Manchester a few weeks back that said "Cheetham Hill Road is one of Britain's most diverse streets." He an article from an unreliable comic: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/1 ... -diversity

sally cinnamon wrote: Now let me guess, you read the Daily Mail article about Manchester a few weeks back that said "Cheetham Hill Road is one of Britain's most diverse streets." He an article from an unreliable comic: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/1 ... -diversity