The people of the North have seen communities ripped apart before, scarred by Margaret Thatcher’s legacy.
Industries once the backbone of the economy – steel, coal and shipbuilding – were dismantled and hard-working families put on the scrapheap as the South got richer at the North’s expense.
It’s no wonder Boris Johnson is now being called the New Maggie in cities and towns across the Pennines. The PM, aided by his Chancellor, is treating those in Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, Leeds and communities in between like second-class citizens.
Thatcher cemented the north-south divide. Johnson is widening it – levelling down, not up.
The sons and daughters of Thatcher’s victims face tougher restrictions than the South.
Hardship
The new furlough rules which grant just two-thirds of normal wages will bring more hardship.
Already disproportionately hit by Covid, partly due to poorer conditions, they are in greater need than most in the South.
That’s why their mayors have spoken out so defiantly. As Newcastle’s Jamie Driscoll said, if people are expected to obey the rules, it should be financially possible for them to do so.
They need at least the minimum wage, preferably a full wage. Their rents and bills won’t be cut to two-thirds.
Manchester’s Andy Burnham warns Boris could be challenged in court. We hope it won’t come to that. MPs need to heed Northern mayors’ call and ensure a debate to expose the plan’s unfairness.
The civic leaders have been bypassed. Maggie abolished the basic tiers of democracy. Boris just ignores them.
Maggie was famously not for turning. Boris notoriously is. This is one U-turn he needs to make.
