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It's not finished. This is just the outline. But I wrote about why North England is poor. Which it really really is. tomforth.co.uk/whynorthengl...

It is now finished (except for links, which I'll add in the coming week). This is 7500 words on Why North England is poor. Are you sure you're ready? tomforth.co.uk/whynorthengl...

Includes maps and graphs on, 1/ Where the North is. 2/ Just how poor the North is. 3/ Why the North has so much potential. 4/ Why North England is more Irish and Scottish than English in some ways. Have fun, stay safe, and try not to be too rude in the replies.

Not core to the discussion, but using "Bath" as the marker of Southerness does depend on whether it's what you fill with water or live there. I'm definitely team short a but still pronounce the placename with a long a 🙂

I've lost all but my short vowels in 35 years in London but it remains my view that if someone wants me to say Barth Spa, they'd better say Liverpool like a scouser. (And I see from the map that Geordies might feel even more strongly on this 🤣)

Cornwall being in the North makes far too much sense

Also graphs of, 5/ Just how centralised the UK is politically. 6/ Just how much of a drain on public finances North England now is.

I think the problem with this analysis is the North isnt the poorest region of the UK. All the commentators obsess about the North but its actually relatively better off compared to the poorest areas in terms of income (Wales and the SW)