"Deprived urban areas in the north have typically been hit hardest."
Yes - but it is far from clear that the Greater Manchester model serves those hardest hit areas best.
Almost every economic measure suggests that it has merely exacerbated the trend of the entire 20th century - moving wealth southwards, from the old urban, industrial areas to the suburban Cheshire fringe.
GM South has a GDP twice that of GM North. The Lancashire towns continue to be thrown aside like a used rag, in favour of the already-well-heeled thank-you Cheshire fringe.
Manchester now presents (despite its undoubted strengths) the same sort of danger at the regional level that London does at the national: a black hole that attracts funding AWAY from where it is most needed.
We need to start hearing more about the "region" in "city region".
Yes - but it is far from clear that the Greater Manchester model serves those hardest hit areas best.
Almost every economic measure suggests that it has merely exacerbated the trend of the entire 20th century - moving wealth southwards, from the old urban, industrial areas to the suburban Cheshire fringe.
GM South has a GDP twice that of GM North. The Lancashire towns continue to be thrown aside like a used rag, in favour of the already-well-heeled thank-you Cheshire fringe.
Manchester now presents (despite its undoubted strengths) the same sort of danger at the regional level that London does at the national: a black hole that attracts funding AWAY from where it is most needed.
We need to start hearing more about the "region" in "city region".