Politicians of all flavour take note

It's not that we have no confidence in ourselves. We have no money, no jobs, no decent housing.
A report to read.

www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/11473783.Call_to_end_North_South_health_divide/

Maybe bring back Gordon in time for the elections?

Nonnie - and Newcastle - the North East.
No way Granjura - he would be the kiss of death. He spoke well when pleading for Scotland's part in the union, but otherwise hasn't got that leadership quality, or charisma. Who has, in the current Labour Party?
Hoping that the amount of feeling generated by this referendum doesn't lose its impetus in the future.

I actually think this north south divide is an artificial construct as ordinary folk in the South fair no better than those in the North.

It is just that there is a concentration of very wealthy in the SE. and they are very obvious when travelling around certain areas in the SE.

But go to the more deprived areas and you will find just the same hardships suffered as those in the North including Scotland.

These are the people that need to feel they have a stake in the country, by having decent jobs and conditions as well as decent housing, the knowledge that the NHS will always be there and the education system gives them the same advantages as that gifted to the 7% of privately educated children. Give these people the stake and they will participate with eagerness in the politics of the UK

Whitewave, there was a chart in the article which did not print in the link.
The North East has an average life expectancy of 79, with a GDP per head of £20,000. The South East has an average life expectancy of 82 and a GDP of £28,000. This excludes London, where the Life expectancy is 81.5 and GDP over £40,000, on a par with that of Norway.

The North South health divide is not a figment of anyone's imagination or an artificial construct.

There are rich and poor everywhere, and some areas have successful business and financial organisations and low unemployment while others do not. It is the number and distribution of the deprived areas in proportion to the prosperous areas that makes the difference.

How do we change all that though? What realistic practical steps can be taken? We all know the issues but what can be done?

I worry that devolving 'power' to the regions would bring a whole host of new problems. How would you divide the regions? Would those on the borders feel they should be in a different region? Would we end up with extra layers of bureaucracy? There would be complaints that all the 'power' was in the large conurbations and so on.

No, I don't have the answers just foresee so many more problems

All this is what should be under discussion.