Economist - 'Abandon "failing" cities and towns across the north of England'

Loughton_Monkey

andrewf75 wrote: »

We need to start making stuff again. We can't go on using cheap labour in the far East because their economies are going to overtake ours. We should be setting up factories in places like Hull and making clothes. And take back those call centres from India as well.

So what are you advocating? Hull to become the world's "Go To" place for string vests, based on centuries of expertise in making fishing nets? Good thinking!

As for the call centre idea, drop it quickly! Most of us can now understand the Indians far more than we can indiginous Hull residents.

Personally, I'd prefer it to develop into the fracking centre of the country. This is on the pessimistic assumption that it might cause damage to local housing. But that's why it needs to take place where the value of houses is so small, they can hardly fall any further. Least damage. A few streets subside into a great pit? £5K a pop damages? Hardly matters with the price of oil these days.

Let's go.....

andrewf75

CLAPTON wrote: »

who is 'we'?

do you mean we should pay extra taxes so the government can set up car factories in Hull?
if the government set up such a factory how much of your own money or pension money would be willing to invest in it?

I'm suggesting that it would make economic sense to rebuild a manufacturing industry in depressed Northern towns not that we pay extra taxes to set them up just to give them something to do!

Loughton_Monkey wrote: »

So what are you advocating? Hull to become the world's "Go To" place for string vests, based on centuries of expertise in making fishing nets? Good thinking!

No - set up factories to produce goods for the UK market whatever that may be. Or invest in energy production as you say. I'm not specifying a particular industry - just that we need to invest in something

Loughton_Monkey

andrewf75 wrote: »

..... I'm not specifying a particular industry - just that we need to invest in something

How about this?


Samii Dixon
Miss Hull and District 2013

CLAPTON

andrewf75 wrote: »

I'm suggesting that it would make economic sense to rebuild a manufacturing industry in depressed Northern towns not that we pay extra taxes to set them up just to give them something to do!



No - set up factories to produce goods for the UK market whatever that may be. Or invest in energy production as you say. I'm not specifying a particular industry - just that we need to invest in something

you haven't answer the question

WHO should set up factories in Hull?

is it with our taxes?

would you be prepared to invest your own money or pension money in government run factories?

andrewf75

I'm not advocating government run factories I'm suggesting that companies should invest there possibly with government incentives and I'd happily see my taxes used to regenerate depressed areas in this way if its for the good of the country as a whole. Just giving an opinion. You can't leave everything to market forces otherwise these places are just going to rot and cost us in the long run.

grizzly1911

zagubov wrote: »

And yet London voted 72: 28%. for its own regional assembly, with a majority in every single borough. The fact the NE didn't want it was enough to stop further regional assemblies

wasn't this just a GLC in blue? Did Londoners actually want to loose the GLC?

Loughton_Monkey

grizzly1911 wrote: »

wasn't this just a GLC in blue? Did Londoners actually want to loose the GLC?

Just had a brilliant thought.

Ken Livingstone as Mayor of Hull.

Sorted!

zagubov

grizzly1911 wrote: »

wasn't this just a GLC in blue? Did Londoners actually want to loose the GLC?

I suppose, but London's got a bigger population than countries like Israel or Switzerland.

And Nope, they didn't IIRC want to lose it but didn't think they could stop her. I remember the struggle between the GLC and Westminster as it was still going on when I arrived in London and was completed about three years later. Maggie just would not tolerate left-wing rival powers structures whether it was unionised labour organisations or nationalised companies or workable regional governments. London became a mess of different boroughs with no overall control or organisation. London transport was lucky to survive.

Mind you I don't think even she thought we should privatise the trains let alone the post office.:eek:

DominicJ_2

andrewf75 wrote: »

We need to start making stuff again. We can't go on using cheap labour in the far East because their economies are going to overtake ours. We should be setting up factories in places like Hull and making clothes. And take back those call centres from India as well.

And who will we sell this stuff we make to?
Why would I buy a British shirt for ten times the cost of Thai shirt? Why would a Peruvian?

We do "make stuff" a lot of it.
Its just complex stuff like pressure valves used in oil rigs, rather than stuff you could buy in Tesco. That said, the UK make more per iPod than China.

And why would "Hullians" flock to work in these factories you build when their reward would be to be hit with a 97% marginal tax rate?
We're considering dropping to part time to avoid the 32% tax we pay on days three, four and five of the week. I dont know could possess the benefits class to accept a 97% tax rate on day one. They dont, simply.

kabayiri

If Nissan can manage to create one of Europe's most efficient car plants in Sunderland, it goes to prove there is hope for most places in the UK.

In East Manchester British Gas has one of it's contact centres. One of the systems accountants was telling me that it would be the last place they'd get rid of. The reason? Well, the cost base is so low, and given the relatively deprived area it operates in, staff retention figures are excellent.

If the South East really is the only place with a prosperous future, then how can Bentley in Crewe attract staff ? How can Rolls Royce operate in Derby with a myriad of supporting small factories in places like Burnley?

For me it's just a matter of will. Nissan or Toyota don't have a miracle touch. They just back their convictions.

There is a future for places outside London/SE.