John Leech MP slams government's North-South failings

5.08.30pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 7th Aug 2007

Manchester MP, John Leech, has condemned the government's failure to tackle inequality between the North and the South.

A new report from a major think-tank shows that the gap between the two areas has grown under the Labour government despite promises to reverse the trend. This comes on the back of recent studies showing massive inequalities in Britain with many feeling the gap between rich and poor is far too wide.

Average incomes in south Greater Manchester are nearly half those in some parts of London.

"It's a sad indictment of a government obsessed with gaining the votes of people in richer areas in the south," said John Leech MP. "This situation has been going on for nearly two centuries yet successive governments have failed to tackle it.

"Thankfully, Manchester has bucked the trend somewhat due to the spirit and determination of the people within it," he continued. "But many areas in Greater Manchester still face deprivation, with thousands living in relative poverty."

"The Lib Dems are the only party to have come out with tough proposals on how to tackle poverty in Britain. The party has proposed a £1,500 cash bonus for taking on pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as an overhaul of the tax credits system."

<<ENDS>>

The Institute for Public Policy Research North's paper, "The Northern Economic Agenda", will be published this autumn. For more information on the findings as well as statistics quoted in this press release, please see http://www.ippr.org.uk/pressreleases/?id=2827

For more information on the Liberal Democrat policies on inequality and poverty, please see http://www.libdems.org.uk/media/documents/policies/80-FreedomFromPoverty.pdf

For more information on the Liberal Democrat tax proposals, please see http://www.libdems.org.uk/media/documents/policies/Tax_policy_paper_120707.pdf

For Barnado's report on child poverty, "It doesn't happen here", please see http://www.barnardos.org.uk/poverty/poverty-findout.htm