Boris handed ‘unique opportunity’ to unlock the North – Brexit to rocket boost economy – Daily Express

Writing for the Manchester Evening News, economist Anand Menon wrote how Brexit and the pandemic has created an opportunity for the North. Describing the country as "riven" by inequality and one that where you are born can "shape" your life.

During a speech at the government's "levelling up" agenda in Coventry, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "For too many people, geography turns out to be destiny."

He first made the claim while admitting the UK economy is "more unbalanced than any other major country".

Measured by local GDP per capita, the UK's output is 26,000 more in London than of the North West, North East and Yorkshire, making it the most unequal country in the development world, which Professor Menon says has nearly "doubled" between 2001 and 2019.

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Professor Menon stated the difference in property and financial wealth between London and the North and Midlands, where wealth rose by 150 percent in London within ten years, while the same figure for the North and Midlands was under 20 percent.

Making his point clear on the window of opportunity presented through the pandemic and Brexit, he said it has also enabled the profile of elected regional leaders to use their platform to hold the government accountable to inequality around the country.

He said: "That awareness must be kept alive and mobilised.

"There will never be a better chance to address the slew of genuine problems that have been ignored for so long. Carpe diem, as the Prime Minister might say."

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Boris handed 'unique opportunity' to unlock the North - Brexit to rocket boost economy - Daily Express