Preparedness for when

Karmacat

As a northerner, I'd certainly like to detach from London, but I, like a lot of my family, have moved down to the south of England - we're part of that "sucking" effect referenced by RAS.

fuddle

Yeah, guilty of that myself. I loved RAS post even if it did hit home a bit. But it is interesting to note that I would still be there had work been as plentiful as my DH's board had thought. Interestingly DH is heading up a new division here in the North, where work is bountiful.

Wanders off thinking about steel, iron mining, coal mining, railways, ship building, potteries, glass making, salt making and chemical production...

It's ok. I'm being quiet today as too busy. I won't hark on about the North's industrial heritage today. Today

thriftwizard

And the north of England and Wales will feel exactly the same as we do.

Please add the South West & Wessex to that! I was brought up to refer to anyone from east of Exeter as a "furriner" (foreigner) & exotic places like Dorset, where I live now, as "furrin parts". And the place I live now is one of the hardest served by the allocation of Government funding; last time I investigated, we were one of only three places that gets no national funding at all.

Obviously that's because we're all so rich. Or possibly because we're all elderly (!) and so won't be around at the next election. Or something... but believe me, London, and the decisions taken in it, have very few fans hereabouts too.

moneyistooshorttomention

Errrm....that isn't true imo re "north of England and Wales" will feel the same way (ie re "are things London-centric or aren't they?)

I think it depends a lot on the person concerned - many of us are "British" wherever we live in Britain and just think of the whole country automatically every time and wont feel "regionalist/nationalist" about the bit of the country we are in (even if its our "own" area).

It literally doesn't occur to some of us to think of "Our" bit of Britain any differently to the country as a whole. It's all one country...end of...and sheer puzzlement at people being either partisan about "their" bit or "anti" someone else's bit.

moneyistooshorttomention

Well I've heard the phrase "North South Divide" many times - but have never understood what anyone means by it.

Time to ask for an explanation of that phrase please:)

nuatha

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Well I've heard the phrase "North South Divide" many times - but have never understood what anyone means by it.

Time to ask for an explanation of that phrase please:)

It means that the government and much else in this country are London centric and that the rest of the country are shat up on. In particular the North was where the heavy industry (and its pollution) the South was where the wealth from that industry went. Though there are plenty of other examples in health, education and political leanings.

Incidentally The United Kingdom of Great Britain refers to three countries in a political union, which is why the Scots question was devolution rather than secession.

I can't speak for Wales but the overwhelming sentiment across the parts of the North East I travel is very anti London and I've heard suggestions that the Welsh may have had the right idea regarding incomers several times lately.

fuddle

It's to do with the socio-economic and political divide within the UK MTSTM

moneyistooshorttomention

Errrm...still feeling puzzled.

I guess there must be some "quality" articles somewhere - complete with all the relevant statistics - if there is a north/south divide and/or London "taking everything" etc. So - links welcome if there is...:)

All I've been able to find is statistics re house prices and I can certainly see a divide there alright - different areas having such widely differing house prices and actually London and environs cop it the worst of the lot by far as regards level of house prices. To extent that I also feel puzzled as to where the workers are to come from for lower-level (or even mid-level) jobs if those jobs are located there.

nuatha

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Errrm...still feeling puzzled.

I guess there must be some "quality" articles somewhere - complete with all the relevant statistics - if there is a north/south divide and/or London "taking everything" etc. So - links welcome if there is...:)

There are, there's even books on the subject - as you're curious then you do the research. That way you might understand the issues.

fuddle

Talking about it here will only bring about observations based on our own experiences and stereotypes. I certainly have them and that has been shaped by experiences by being North and South.

They aren't for here because they will most probably cause offence, like in the past.

When DH advertised for a labourer in the South 2 years ago he was unable to fulfil the post. He had to get agency staff in for the first 6 months. In the North DH has had to withdraw the labourer's position from advertisement because he has 100+ applicants in the first 3 days.

That is a fact from the here and now. I will leave it up to yourselves to interpret it.