OPINION: Do we really have a north-south divide?

And is there really a north-south divide?

I’d like to think there isn’t. I may be a bit naive here but I would prefer to imagine we are governed by one-nation politicians who treated us all equally.

But I am increasingly coming to the conclusion that isn’t the case.

I suppose the recent fiasco on our railways is the most visible indication of the disparity between the north (all of the north) and essentially London and the south east.

History tells us the north-south divide has existed at least since the 19th century and I take the point it is almost impossible to establish a realistic line marking exactly where the south ends and the north starts but the fact remains, there does appear to be a startling disparity.

Let’s just look at transport shall we?

The government promised a programme of rail electrification including lines in the north and midlands.

Then what did it do? Cancelled it, that’s what.

Transport Minister Chris Graying said: “New bi-mode train technology offers seamless transfer from diesel power to electric that is undetectable to passengers. This means that we no longer need to electrify every line to achieve the same significant improvements to journeys and we will only electrify lines where it delivers a genuine benefit to passengers.”

So, no electrification for us, but a matter of days later he announced his support for the £16bn Crossrail 2 project in London.

Seems like a bit of a north-south divide to me.

Then we have the thorny topic of HS2. I’ve yet to come across an ‘ordinary’ person who actually wants it, yet the government is determined to crack on with it.

I subscribe to the views of Prof John Tomaney at University College London’s Bartlett School of Planning who said in France, Spain and South Korea the evidence suggests it is capitals that benefit by sucking more wealth to the centre. He believes that the main effect of HS2 is for workers in other parts of the country will become part of the south east labour market.

And what was the other big transport announcement recently? Yes, you guessed it – the go-ahead for a third runway at Heathrow.

Back to Mr Grayling again. “The time for action is now,” he told MPs (if only he was as prompt in some of his other policy offerings).

He insisted the decision was being taken in the national interest and would benefit the whole of the UK – with 15 per cent of new landing slots at the airport ‘facilitating’ regional connectivity.

Sorry Mr Grayling but when I’m flying off for my two weeks in the Spanish sun, I really don’t see how a new £14bn runway at Heathrow will be of any benefit to me at all.

But it’s not just transport where there is a problem. Take health.

Last year the British Medical Journal published the results of a survey that revealed living in the north is seriously bad for you.

It suggested that dying early is 20 per cent more likely for those who live in the northern areas of the country.

The statistics show that while the mortality rates in England have improved overall, there is a clear distinction between the statistics from the north and south of the country. Those aged 35 to 44, for example, are 49 per cent more likely to die suddenly if they live in the north.

According to a report on the Independent’s website, the problems don’t end there.

Babies are less likely to be breastfed by their mothers if they live in the north and schools in northern areas receive less funding than their southern counterparts.

One of the effects of this is schoolchildren in the north have fallen behind by the age of five.

Schools in the south-east are also sending nearly 50 per cent more students to Oxbridge than the national average.

Then there’s the disparity in arts funding with £700m needed to bridge the division.

And the wage gap, too, is alarming, says the Independent. The average wage of a working woman in Camden is £560 a week, while Hartlepool has an average of £252.

Though house prices may be lower in the north, research has suggested that ‘the same number of new homes are being built in London as every city region in the so-called ‘Northern Powerhouse’ combined’.

Then there is the charity study based on inspections taken by the Quality Care Commission which revealed 15 of the 20 worst areas for social care were in the north.

And finally – and this one really stings – there are the reports which suggest us in the north west have the lowest life expectancy of 77.9 years, while those in the south east have the highest at 80.5.

Let’s not forget the Northern Powerhouse was a Tory election manifesto pledge.

I think it’s about time they started coming good on their promises.

By Guardian columnist The Fly in the Ointment