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Covid has deepened the inequalities between the north and south, study finds
‘This is an urgent wake up call’
A thinktank has warned, in an ‘urgent wake-up call’ to Boris Johnson that there are deepening inequalities between the north and south of England with little sign of the governments ‘levelling up’ agenda becoming a reality.
The government’s ‘levelling up’ policy lacks any plans a year after the election and following months of further widening between the north and south.
The ‘State of the North’ report, which is released annually, has pointed out gaps in wages, productivity and health between the region.
Covid has also had an ‘uneven impact across England’ says the research was done by thinktank IPPR. Extra restrictions have hit places such as Greater Manchester since the first lockdown, ‘creating new regional inequalities and deepening old ones’.
The pandemic ‘has powerfully demonstrated the weaknesses and cost’ of dictating too much from London and underlined the ‘reluctance of the centre to cede control’.
The research claims that a year after the general election, the ‘levelling up’ agenda is still ‘most striking for its lack of detail’. However, the Treasury has denied such claims.
The annual assessment says, many people in the North âalready live in a low-wage economy, which is not delivering good outcomes in income, health, or routes out of povertyâ.
People in the north west are paid 80p less an hour than the English average but there are also few job opportunities per person across north England when compared to the country as a hole.
Before Covid hit, most northern areas had healthy life expectancies below the English average with 60% of them seeing a decline in that measure for women in the past decade.
By October, unemployment in the north has hit its highest point since 1994, particularly impacted places such as Blackpool, Hull and Middlesborough.
The report points out the fundamental connection between health and wealth explaining that ‘if the northern economy is to work for people, it needs to support good health in the northern population’.
It goes onto explain that long-term inequalities within England have been thrown ‘into a stark spotlight’ following Covid-19. Adding that any recovery that âsimply restores the old orderâ would be âunsustainable and – for many – unacceptableâ.
Covid-19 has also created new regional divides and deepened old ones.
The report states: “Parts of the north of England have seen especially high rates of infection and have been subject to more severe âlocal lockdownâ measures than many other parts of the country.”
Speaking on the ‘levelling up’, something it describes as one of the ‘latest in a long history of initiatives’ that is ‘most striking for its lack of detail on how rebalancing is to be achieved’.
It continues: “Some attempts to deal with Englandâs regional divides can seem highly politicised, designed with an eye to electoral outcomes, particularly in marginal seats,
“Successive governments have been keen to be seen to take action and to claim credit for any change.
“This has created an unhealthy situation where efforts to tackle regional inequalities and implement devolution have been constrained by an overly controlling hand in Westminster. Covid-19 has powerfully demonstrated the weaknesses and cost of this approach and the reluctance of the centre to cede control to elected leaders in combined and local authorities.”
The report goes onto explain the deep inadequacies in the UK’s centralised system of government, in particular for dealing with a crisis like Covid-19.
“The establishment of a highly centralised and outsourced system of âtrack and traceâ, which has repeatedly failed to deliver, has been a prime example of where Whitehall has overlooked local expertise and capacity,” it says. It also criticises the loss of a minister devoted to the Northern Powerhouse.
Sarah Longlands, director of IPPR North, said the government âwas elected on a promise to level up places like the Northâ.
“But one year on, they donât have a plan to reduce inequalities between and within regions in England, and the inadequate, centrally controlled, competitive âlevelling up fundâ announced in the spending review simply wonât cut it.
“Our regional divides are severe and growing, we face a climate emergency, and Brexit is just around the corner, so a recovery from Covid-19 that simply restores the status-quo – which has failed so many Northerners – would be unacceptable.
“We need to challenge old, reductive assumptions about our economy because theyâve failed to create the conditions for a good life for everyone in the North.
“In particular, we have to stop assuming that the centre knows best and commit once and for all to a clear programme of regional devolution in England. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past.
“If we are to build a better future, we need to focus on people, asking âwho benefits?â from policy decisions. From our research we can see that many people, particularly those in work and children, are not benefitting from them. Here in the North we can and will power up, level up, rise up together- but every moment that we donât have the power and resources we need to do this, peoplesâ lives are affected.
“This is a wake-up call. Is the Government listening?”
A spokesperson for the Treasury explains that the government had spent ‘record sums’ (ÂŁ280bn) supporting families and jobs throughout the crisis.
The pointed to an increase in the national living wage, as well as a ÂŁ2bn ‘restart’ scheme to help people avoid long-term unemployment.
“We are totally committed to levelling up opportunities across the whole of the UK as we build back better,” they said.
“We already taken significant steps including announcing new investment in new green technologies, like carbon capture, which will create thousands of high quality jobs in the North, setting out plans for Freeports to boost growth across the UK, and investing ÂŁ100 billion in infrastructure to boost growth next year.
“Our new ÂŁ4 billion Levelling Up fund to support the fabric of everyday life, like highstreets, or train stations, is just one part of a whole of Government commitment.
“In the Treasury that includes reforming the Green Book, which appraises the funding of projects, to focus on regional impact, as well as plans to open a new Treasury office and our new UK infrastructure bank in the North in the coming year.
“The Civil Service as a whole has committed to relocating 22,000 civil service roles outside of London and the South East, as well as a step change in investment in skills to boost peopleâs chances of success wherever they live.”
News
Man arrested after mum pushing pram stabbed and killed in broad daylight
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder
Police have arrested a 25-year-old man wanted for the fatal stabbing of a woman while she was pushing her baby in a pram in Bradford.
Police have arrested a suspect, following the murder of Kulsuma Akter, 27. Akter was stabbed several times in the Westgate area of Bradford city centre on Saturday afternoon.Â
The mother was rushed to hospital, where despite the best efforts of medics, she sadly succumbed to her injuries. Her baby was unharmed in the incident.
It has also emerged that suspect, Habibur Masum, was on bail for assaulting and threatening to kill her at the time of the attack.
Masum was conditionally bailed by Manchester Magistratesâ Court in November, despite prosecutors objecting to his release, it is understood.
Court documents show Masum, whose address was listed as Oldham, Greater Manchester, was charged with assaulting Ms Akter on November 23rd and threatening to kill her on November 24th.
Both incidents are alleged to have happened in Greater Manchester. Police had previously confirmed the couple were known to each other but have not confirmed their relationship.Â
Masum attended a hearing on November, 27th 2023, where he pleaded not guilty to both offences and was ordered not to contact Ms Akter, it is understood.
His bail conditions also prevented him from contacting a second person, or visiting a particular address.
Greater Manchester Police has said it is supporting West Yorkshire Police with the ongoing murder investigation.
Both forces have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct watchdog over previous contact with Masum and Ms Akter.
Detective Superintendent Jude Holmes, from GMP Oldham district, said: âWe share the shock and concern that our communities feel in the wake of this tragic incident, and our thoughts are with Kulsuma Akter’s family at this truly distressing time.
âHabibur Masum is wanted by West Yorkshire Police on suspicion of murder. Due to his links to Greater Manchester, we have our specialist officers following several lines of enquiry to locate him.
“I urge members of the public to remain vigilant, and if you have any information on his whereabouts, call 999 as a matter of urgency.
âDue to previous police contact with Habibur Masum and Kulsuma Akter, Greater Manchester Police has made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.â
Police have arrested a 25-year-old man on suspicion of murder. A 23-year-old man was also arrested in Cheshire on suspicion of assisting an offender.
News
Hunt for murder suspect after mum pushing pram killed in broad daylight
It is not clear whether is Masum is armed as police warn not to approach him
Police are searching for a man from Oldham after a mum was stabbed to death in Bradford while pushing her baby in a pram.
Habibur Masum, 25, is wanted over the attack which took place in the Westgate area of Bradford at 3.21pm on Saturday (April 6th).
The victim, a 27-year-old woman, suffered multiple stab wounds and was taken to hospital where she sadly died of her injuries, West Yorkshire Police said.
The force also confirmed the baby was not harmed in the attack as the public is warned not to approach Masum.
It is understood Masum was known to the victim although police have not confirmed their relationship at this time. A knife was found at the scene but it is unclear if he is armed.
Masum was pictured on CCTV wearing a grey hooded, zip-up coat with three large horizontal lines of grey, white and black on it, grey tracksuit bottoms with a black logo and burgundy trainers.Â
A witness also reported seeing him wearing a grey hoodie with the hood up shortly after the incident on Westgate, at the junction with Drewton Road.
Masum is from Oldham and is believed to have links to Burnley and Chester. He is described as an Asian man, of slim build.
Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson said: “We have had significant resources following up a number of lines of inquiry to locate Habibur Masum but at this time his whereabouts are unknown.
“I would urge anyone who does see him not to approach him but to call 999 immediately.”
She said the death of such a young woman in the âmost awful circumstancesâ will âunderstandably cause concern in the local communityâ.
Detective Chief Inspector Atkinson Added: âI would like to reassure the wider public that we are working tirelessly to investigate this horrendous crime and bring the person responsible to justice.
âTo help us with this we are urging anyone who was in the area who may have dashcam footage or seen or heard something, however small it may seem, to please come forward.
âA scene remains in place which includes some road closures and I thank the public for their patience while we conduct our enquiries.â
News
Man arrested in murder investigation after human torso found in Salford nature reserve
A man in his 20s is being questioned by police
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a human torso was found wrapped in plastic in a nature reserve in Salford.
As detectives continue to investigate the discovery of human remains found by a passerby on Thursday, April 4th, a man in his 20s from Salford was taken into custody on Saturday evening for questioning, Greater Manchester Police say.
DNA testing is being carried out to determine the identity of the victim, who is believed to be a male âlikely to be aged older than 40â and âhas only been deceased for a matter of daysâ, officers say.
GMP says it is conducting a thorough search of the area by utilising local officers and specialist branches including search dogs and assistance from underwater search teams, to help comb the site.
The force says although it has ânot found anything else that is of interest to the investigationâ, âwork will not stopâ until it is certain the area has been thoroughly searched.
Chief Superintendent Tony Creely, of GMPâs Salford district, said: âThe arrest we made yesterday evening is an important step for our investigation, but we must keep an open mind and a big part of this is speaking to anyone who may have crucial information.
“As we continue to work in the area, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the public for their concern and cooperation so far, and we are mindful this is a disturbing incident for the local community, but I can assure you that since we were made aware, weâve been pursuing every single line of enquiry to help us find out what has happened.
âI cannot stress the importance of people contacting us with information if they know anything at all. You may have information that you donât feel is of importance, but it could be to us, please pass it on, it could be the key piece of information we need to progress this investigation.â
Anyone who thinks they may have witnessed something suspicious in the Kersal Dale area over the last few days is urged to call GMP on 101 and quoting log number 2695 of April, 4th 2024.
A dedicated portal for anyone to submit images or video footage which could help police can be found HERE.
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